Staph is a word that gets tossed around martial arts gyms all over the world a lot, but not everyone knows exactly what it is, how one prevents it, and how it is treated.
We got Doctor Warren Wang, longtime BJJ practitioner, gym owner, and ONE Vice President of Medical Services, to shed some light on this dangerous bacteria. This article is part of a series of regular columns by the veteran fight doctor.
Staphylococcus aureus, commonly known as Staph, is a bacteria that is frequently found in the nose, respiratory tract, and on the skin. Although S. aureus is not always pathogenic, it is a common cause of skin infections such as abscesses, respiratory infections such as sinusitis, and food poisoning.
In the context of a gym, we are most worried about skin infections and diseases. S. aureus can cause a range of skin disorders such as pimples, impetigo, boils, cellulitis, folliculitis, carbuncles, scalded skin syndrome, and abscesses. Search for more information on these disorders on the internet and you’ll find out how serious they can be, but be warned that it can be pretty graphic.
Even more worrying is the emergence of antibiotic-resistant strains of S. aureus such as methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA). This is a worldwide problem in clinical medicine, and thus possess a potential problem in the gym. After all, nobody would want to train or continue training in a facility that could lead to such serious skin infections.
Prevention
The spread of S. aureus (including MRSA) is generally caused via human-to-human contact. Emphasis on basic hand washing and proper academy cleaning are the most effective ways in preventing its transmission.
Alcohol and bleach are the most economic cleaning agents to use in the academy. At my academy, the mats are mopped down with a diluted bleached mixture (1:100) before and after each class, as a higher concentration of bleach may be uncomfortable for the students during class. We also encourage our students to wash their hands and feet with soap before each session.
In addition, athletes can choose to wear a long-sleeved rashguard and spats during training to prevent skin-to-skin contact, and a thorough shower with soap is highly recommended right after training. Athletes who suspect they have contracted a skin condition should discontinue training until they have been treated and cleared by a dermatologist or family medicine doctor.
Treatment
Antibiotics are the gold standard in the treatment of Staphylococcus aureus. Local infections such as furuncle and carbuncles can be treated by local incision and drainage under aseptic conditions and topical antibiotics. More diffused infections such as impetigo, folliculitis, and cellulitis need to be treated with proper skin care and oral antibiotics.
More seriously, anyone with uncontrolled progressive infections including systemic symptoms of fever and chills needs to be admitted for intravenous antibiotic treatment.
It is imperative that we keep our skin clean and healthy. Athletes often forget to take care of their skin, brushing off little scrapes and cuts on the skin, as well as chapped heels and elbows, as minor inconveniences.
However, hours and hours on the mat can lead to significant wear and tear on the skin. Proper cleaning, protection, and maintenance practices are critical to protect the body from the environment.
Next month, we will discuss another common skin disease found in the gym, Ringworm. Until then, train hard, and train smart.
Doctor Warren Wang is ONE Championship’s Vice President of Medical Services. He is a member of the American Ringside Physicians, Taiwan Society of Emergency Medicine, and Taiwan Medical Association.
Doctor Wang has been an active part of MMA in Asia for several years, both as a resident medical consultant and referee for several organisations. He also owns and teaches at the Taiwan Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Academy, and is the Chairman of the Chinese Taipei Jiu-Jitsu Association.
