Management of Bacterial Skin Infections in Soccer Players

Jun 19, 2010
Hanish Babu

Macerated Pitted Keratolysis in Soccer Players - Dr.Hanish Babu, MD

Soccer players, as a professional group, are exposed to community skin infections; early diagnosis and management of these dermatoses are very important.

Early diagnosis and treatment of the contagious bacterial skin infections is of utmost importance in preventing recurrences and reducing the spread of the infections to other players, especially during matches like the FIFA World Cup.

Prevention and Treatment of Skin Infections in Football Players: General Measures

Stringent hygienic measures and early treatment of infection is important in preventing and getting rid of the potentially contagious skin infections in soccer players.

Taking a bath immediately before and after the football matches will prevent transmission of the germs among the players. Many soccer players wait for sweat to dry before taking a bath. From the hygienic and disease prevention point of view, this is not advisable. Remember that the sweat, dirt and bacteria have been on the skin for more than two hours by the time a shower is accessible.
Frequent use of antiseptic hand sanitizers before, during and after the matches will go a long way in preventing infectious skin diseases in football players.
Avoidance of red meats and fried, spicy fast foods along with increased intake of fresh fruits, green salads and vegetables help in maintaining and toning up the body’s immune system against the communicable skin infections.

Prevention and Treatment of the Carrier State of MRSA and Other Bacteria in Soccer Players

Regular, long term application of chlorhexidine cream or antibiotic creams like mupirocin or fusidic acid to the carrier sites like nose and body folds will reduce the colonization of MRSA and stop recurrences and infectious outbreaks of the boils. These applications should be continued for at least for three to four months.

Using chlorhexidine or povidone iodine skin cleansers during baths will reduce the chances of bacterial colonization on the skin.
For severe infections and recurrences, oral antibiotics like oral Rifampicin or low dose Clindamycin help in clearing the resident bacteria for a few months. Rifampicin, 600 mg daily for seven to 10 days clears the carrier state and prevents recurrences in most cases. Clindamycin is also effective in curing the carrier state of the MRSA.
Intertrigo caused by the bacteria and pitted keratolysis can be cured with a two to three week long course of oral antibiotics like erythromycin, azithromycin or doxycycline. Dusting with antiseptic powders before the matches will help prevent recurrences.
Abrasions and cuts acquired during the course of play should be washed well with soap and water and cleansed with povidone iodine before dressing up with antiseptic gauze pieces. If there are no further games, minor abrasions and cuts may be kept open after applying antiseptic solutions like the povidone iodine. This will hasten the healing process in open wounds.
Never put powders in open wounds as these may act as foreign bodies and irritate the wound further.

From the above discussion it is evident that, because of the risk of contagion among the players, bacterial skin infections should be diagnosed and treated on a war footing in soccer players.

Management of Bacterial Skin Infections in Soccer Players: Related Articles

References:

Begier ME et al. A High-Morbidity Outbreak of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus among Players on a College Football Team, Facilitated by Cosmetic Body Shaving and Turf Burns. Clinical Infectious Diseases. 2004; 39:1446–53
Susan E Manning et al. Invasive Group A Streptococcal Infection in High School Football Players, New York City, 2003. Emerging Infectious Diseases. www.cdc.gov/eid. 11:1:146-149, 2005
Goodman RA et al. Infectious diseases in competitive sports. JAMA.1994; 271: 862–7.
Rook’s Textbook of Dermatology, 7th Edition, 2004

Disclaimer

The information given in this article is for educational purposes only so that patients are aware of the options available. No diagnosis should be made or treatment undertaken without first consulting your doctor. If you do so, Dr.Hanish Babu, MD or Suite101 will not be responsible for any consequences. The images provided are for illustration purposes only.

Hanish Babu - Dr.Hanish Babu, MD is a dermatologist and a feature writer on Suite101.com with more than 200 articles related to skin diseases on the ...