title: CA-MRSA. The new sports pathogen.
abstract: Skin infections in athletes caused by community-associated Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) have been observed within many cities throughout the United States and within many countries throughout the world (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2003). As the incidence rises in the athletic population, clinicians must learn to identify risk factors for CA-MRSA, diagnosis and treat infections with judicious use of antimicrobial agents and facilitate strategies to limit transmission. Recently, a new consensus guideline for handling CA-MRSA outbreaks in sports has been released by the CDC (Gorwitz et al., 2006). This article includes a review of the evolution of MRSA; distinguishes between healthcare associated Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (HA-MRSA) and CA-MRSA; and reviews the diagnosis, management, and prevention strategies to limit transmission of CA-MRSA.
authors.affiliation: Thedacare Physicians-Waupaca Family Medicine, Plover, WI, USA.
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kurkowski
mesh_terms: D004496:Education, Continuing; D006801:Humans; D016106:Methicillin Resistance; D012307:Risk Factors; D013177:Sports; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology