title: Epidemiology of Skin Infections in Men's Wrestling: Analysis of 2009-2010 Through 2013-2014 National Collegiate Athletic Association Surveillance Data.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Our knowledge of the current epidemiology of skin infections among wrestlers is limited.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To analyze and report the epidemiology of skin infections among National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) men's wrestling student-athletes during the 2009-2010 through 2013-2014 academic years.
  
  
  METHODS
  Descriptive epidemiology study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Aggregate skin infection and exposure data collected by the NCAA Injury Surveillance Program.
  
  
  METHODS
  Collegiate men's wrestling student-athletes.
  
  
  METHODS
  All viral, bacterial, or fungal skin infections reported by athletic trainers at 17 NCAA programs were analyzed, providing 35 team-seasons of data. Skin infection rates per 10 000 athlete-exposures (AEs), rate ratios, skin infection proportions, and skin infection proportion ratios were calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The athletic trainers reported 112 skin infections contracted by 87 student-athletes across 78 720 AEs. The overall skin infection rate was 14.23/10 000 AEs (95% confidence interval [CI] = 11.59, 16.86). Of the skin infections identified, 22.3% (n = 25) were recurrent skin infections. Most skin infections (65.2%) were attributable to 5 team-seasons (range, 11-19 infections). Most skin infections occurred during the regular season (n = 76, 67.9%), were identified during practice (n = 100, 89.3%), and resulted in ≥24 hours' time loss (n = 83, 74.1%). The rate for viral skin infections was 1.72 times the rate for bacterial skin infections (95% CI = 1.09, 2.72) and 2.08 times the rate for fungal skin infections (95% CI = 1.28, 3.39). Fungal skin infections more often resulted in time loss <24 hours compared with all other skin infections (75.0% versus 12.5%; infection proportion ratio = 6.00; 95% CI = 3.30, 10.92).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings highlight the contagiousness of skin infections and suggest that skin infection rates may be attributable to high incidences among particular teams.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
authors.forename: Mackenzie M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Herzog
authors.affiliation: Human Movement Science Curriculum, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
authors.forename: Melissa A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Fraser
authors.affiliation: Department of Exercise and Sport Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
authors.forename: Johna K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Register-Mihalik
authors.affiliation: Department of Exercise and Sport Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
authors.forename: Zachary Y
authors.initials: ZY
authors.lastname: Kerr
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D056352:Athletes / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D003881:Dermatomycoses / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D019468:Disease Management; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D020380:Needs Assessment; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods; D012621:Seasons; D017192:Skin Diseases, Bacterial / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014495:Universities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014952:Wrestling / Q000293:injuries*
keywords: dermatology; outbreaks; skin conditions