Rugby is a game that is rough on the pitch and hearty in the changing rooms – but its customs may be causing outbreaks of a nasty skin condition, health experts warn today.
Sharing of towels, sharing of razors and sharing of ice baths may all be responsible for passing on a strain of bacteria which can be fatal, according to Public Health England.
The findings come from a study of one club in the south Midlands of England where researchers found four players infected with the same strain of PVL-MSSA, a kind of staphylococcus aureus bacteria. The organisms produce a toxin called Panton-Valentine Leukocidin, which normally causes boils and abscesses but can also cause necrotising fasciitis – which destroys skin and tissues.
59 players took part in a survey and 11 admitted to regular sharing of towels while six often shared razors.
Out of the 59, 22 had cold baths after playing and 17 reported suffering skin conditions.
Health officials said rugby players were susceptible because of damage to the skin from "turf burns" from falling on artificial grass.
Dr Deepti Kumar, from Public Health England, said the organism could cause serious infection.
Dr Kumar said: "Because it can spread easily it is important to ensure that the correct procedures are in place to limit the spread of the bacteria.
"The investigation identified a number of high risk practices among the players which increase their chances of getting an infection, such as sharing towels and razors, and sharing ice baths with their fellow team members.
"We would urge any sportsperson who plays a sport where cuts and grazes are commonplace to practice good hygiene and not share any item with fellow team members to reduce their risk of developing an infection.”
Leave a Reply