Community-acquired methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus: an emerging problem in the athletic population.

Participants of contact sports are at risk for outbreaks of skin and soft tissue infection. Causes of reported outbreaks include Staphylococcus aureus, herpes simplex virus, Streptococcus pyogenes, and several fungi. Although once thought of solely as a nosocomial pathogen, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus has been identified as an emerging problem in the community, particularly in the athletic population. Despite a recent increase in reported outbreaks of community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus soft tissue infection in athletic teams, many sports medicine physicians are unfamiliar with the epidemiology of this pathogen. It is spread via person-to-person contact and is harbored within the anterior nares and on the skin of carriers. Outbreaks of community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus soft tissue infection are not treated by traditional beta-lactam antibiotics, and they can be difficult to eradicate. Such infections have been associated with significant morbidity, with up to 70% of involved team members requiring hospitalization and intravenous antibiotics. A thorough understanding of community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus is essential for the sports medicine physician to properly identify, treat, and control infectious outbreaks.