Sage Arts Studio

An increasing threat to martial athletes is the rise of multidrug-resistant organisms. Training environments create opportunities to spread organisms like MRSA, VISA (Vancomycin-intermediate resistant Staphylococcus aureus), VRSA (Vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus), and VRE (Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus). These "superbugs" join the ordinary risks (ringworm, pinkeye, athlete's foot & bloodbourne pathogens). Fortunately, proper hygiene and cleaning procedures are the key to prevention.

This is a particular threat to grapplers. Due to the close-contact training & shared contact with the mat, there is a contact exchange of sweat during training. Problems typically arise when there are open wounds, however these bacteria can also cause flu-like symptoms and pneumonia.

In particular MRSA is becoming more common. A friend of mine was taken out of training due to an internal infection of his foot, that ended up in a year-long battle to remove the bacteria. His treatment required having tissue from his foot removed, and in severe cases that lead to Compartment Syndrome, amputation may be necessary.

Important facts:
- MRSA can live on mats for more than 30 days
- MRSA can live in cloth for more than 52 days
- MRSA can present pneumonia & flu-like symptoms
- MRSA can be carried without symptoms
- Internal infection can lead to Compartment Syndrome
- Shaving (arms, legs, chest) greatly increases risk of infection

MRSA will usually appear as a pimple the skin or an absess that spreads very rapidly to surounding areas. The only way to know if your infection is actually MRSA is to get a culture done. Any pimple ot skin blemish that becomes a boil within 24 hours, should get tested checked immediately. Unusual swelling or inflammation around a scrape (mat rash), cut or other open wound should be highly suspect.

From the Center for Disease Control & Prevention:

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) is a type of bacteria that is resistant to certain antibiotics. These antibiotics include methicillin and other more common antibiotics such as oxacillin, penicillin and amoxicillin. Staph infections, including MRSA, occur most frequently among persons in hospitals and healthcare facilities (such as nursing homes and dialysis centers) who have weakened immune systems.

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MRSA infections that are acquired by persons who have not been recently (within the past year) hospitalized or had a medical procedure (such as dialysis, surgery, catheters) are know as CA-MRSA infections. Staph or MRSA infections in the community are usually manifested as skin infections, such as pimples and boils, and occur in otherwise healthy people. (see Community-associated MRSA. )

How common are staph and MRSA infections?

Staph bacteria are one of the most common causes of skin infection in the United States and are a common cause of pneumonia, surgical wound infections, and bloodstream infections. The majority of MRSA infections occur among patients in hospitals or other healthcare settings; however, it is becoming more common in the community setting. Data from a prospective study in 2003, suggests that 12% of clinical MRSA infections are community-associated, but this varies by geographic region and population.

How can I prevent staph or MRSA skin infections?

Practice good hygiene:
- Keep your hands clean by washing thoroughly with soap and water or using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
- Keep cuts and scrapes clean and covered with a bandage until healed.
- Avoid contact with other people's wounds or bandages.
- Avoid sharing personal items such as towels or razors.
- Use of protective layers (such as a long sleeve rash guard with antibacterial/antimicrobial fabric) during training will reduce the risk
- Clean your training equipment (throroughly) after every use
- Make sure you allow adequate time for your training gear to dry thoroughly (have more than one Gi)

School owners - steps you can take to protect your students
- After class require every student to wash their hands and arms (especially after bagwork or grappling)
- Wipe down all training equipment (mats, bags, pads, etc.) with an antimicrobial cleaner after each class
- Require students to wear clean, dry clothing for every class
- Require students to own their own gear (bag gloves, helmets, shin guards, hand wraps, focus mitts)
- Treat any scrape, abrasion, cut or other open wound immediately
- Check your students regularly for symptoms

Once upon a time there was a stone cutter. The stone cutter lived in a land where a life of privilege meant being powerful. Looking at his life he decided that he was unsatisfied with the way things were and so he set out to become the most powerful thing in the land.

Looking around his land he wondered to himself what is it to be powerful. Looking up he saw the Sun shining down on all the land. "The Sun must be the most powerful thing that there is, for it shines down on all things, and all things grow from it's touch." So he became the Sun.

Days later, as he shone his power down on the inhabitants of the land, there came a cloud which passed beneath him obstructing his brilliance. Frustrated he realized that the Sun was not the most powerful thing in the land, if a simple cloud could interrupt his greatness. So he became a cloud, in fact, he became the most powerful storm that the world had ever seen.

And so he blew his rain and lightning, and resounded with thunder all over the land, demonstrating that he was the most powerful. Until one day he came across a boulder.

Down and down he poured and his thunder roared, lightning flashed and filled the sky, striking the ground near the boulder. His winds blew and blew and blew, and yet, despite all his efforts, he could not budge the boulder.

Frustrated again, he realized that the storm was not the most powerful thing in the land, rather it must be the boulder. So he became the boulder.

For days he sat, unmovable, and impassive, demonstrating his power, until one day, a stone cutter came and chiseled him to bits.