2008 Woodie Awards
Staph infections begin to affect Delaware athletes
Evan Crowther-Washburn
Issue date: 11/13/07 Section: Sports
Athletic fields are constantly referred to as battlefields and players as soldiers. These days, fields are more like hot zones and players are victims.
Staphylococcus Aureus, often referred to as "staph," is a bacterium carried on the skin. Staph becomes a major problem when this common bacteria finds its way into the openings of the skin. Once the staph enters the body, it can become lethal if it moves into the bloodstream. Staph is passed through contact, which is why it has become so prevalent in sports.
Recently, the powerful Methicillin-Resistant Staph has run rampant and become a major issue in schools, athletic facilities and hospitals. MRSA is the most feared of the staph family because of its resistance to many antibiotics used to cure the infections.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 5,000 Americans die each year from MRSA. In the past, MRSA was reserved for hospitals, but now it is more prevalent in locker rooms, weight rooms and training facilities - all areas college athletes spend a bulk of their time.
Junior Abbie Pyeritz, a former university tennis player, said she will never forget her encounter with the staph infection.
"I was perfectly fine Wednesday morning and then eight hours later I couldn't move," she said. "I curled up in a ball on my couch - it was really debilitating."
MRSA infected Pyeritz three weeks ago. Boils appeared on her leg that would come and go, but later, two larger boils developed on her knee.
"I was hesitant to go to Student Health at first because I know that it's a breeding-ground for bacteria," Pyeritz said. "But I also knew I needed to get this checked out."
Pyeritz went to Student Health Services the following morning, took antibiotics and a culture was taken from her boils. That night, her knee swelled, she produced a fever and began throwing up.
By Friday morning, Pyeritz went to the emergency room receiving intravenous antibiotics for MRSA. She spent the entire weekend in the hospital receiving infusions of Vancomycin, a very powerful drug used to kill only the most aggressive infections. Pyeritz said the doctors let her know how lucky she was to have caught her staph early because it could have been a lot worse.
Staphylococcus Aureus, often referred to as "staph," is a bacterium carried on the skin. Staph becomes a major problem when this common bacteria finds its way into the openings of the skin. Once the staph enters the body, it can become lethal if it moves into the bloodstream. Staph is passed through contact, which is why it has become so prevalent in sports.
Recently, the powerful Methicillin-Resistant Staph has run rampant and become a major issue in schools, athletic facilities and hospitals. MRSA is the most feared of the staph family because of its resistance to many antibiotics used to cure the infections.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 5,000 Americans die each year from MRSA. In the past, MRSA was reserved for hospitals, but now it is more prevalent in locker rooms, weight rooms and training facilities - all areas college athletes spend a bulk of their time.
Junior Abbie Pyeritz, a former university tennis player, said she will never forget her encounter with the staph infection.
"I was perfectly fine Wednesday morning and then eight hours later I couldn't move," she said. "I curled up in a ball on my couch - it was really debilitating."
MRSA infected Pyeritz three weeks ago. Boils appeared on her leg that would come and go, but later, two larger boils developed on her knee.
"I was hesitant to go to Student Health at first because I know that it's a breeding-ground for bacteria," Pyeritz said. "But I also knew I needed to get this checked out."
Pyeritz went to Student Health Services the following morning, took antibiotics and a culture was taken from her boils. That night, her knee swelled, she produced a fever and began throwing up.
By Friday morning, Pyeritz went to the emergency room receiving intravenous antibiotics for MRSA. She spent the entire weekend in the hospital receiving infusions of Vancomycin, a very powerful drug used to kill only the most aggressive infections. Pyeritz said the doctors let her know how lucky she was to have caught her staph early because it could have been a lot worse.
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