Infectious disease education, prevention and treatment is a vital part of any athletic facility or athletic team.  An infectious disease can spread through a facility or team like wildfire, thus decimating an organization, and rendering it unable to be competitive.  Teams need to take steps to prevent the occurrence and spread of such diseases. 

Education takes place with the development and formal review of all policies regarding infectious disease with players, coaches, team physicians and parents. This should be a yearly process, taking care to update any changes in policy or protocol and updating parties immediately. Teams should record all policies and keep them in a binder allowing for distribution to all parties.

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“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” is an old adage that should be heeded in this area.  Preventing the development and the spread of infectious disease will greatly minimize the amount of time and money spent trying to treat it. As a general rule and for best practice recommendations, try to observe the following:

• Clean all surfaces with a peroxide-based solution.
• Do not share razors, bar soap or towels.
• Shower as soon as possible after practices, games, etc.
• Use a 4 percent chlorhexidine soap in the shower at least twice a week.  These are often available in wipes as well. A common brand is Hibiclens.
• Wash and dry clothes separately from teammates and family members in hot water if you are known to have an infectious wound, especially staph.

• Treatment of any wound or infection is crucial to preventing the spread of disease to the environment or teammates. As a general rule and for best practice recommendations, try to observe the following:
• Treat all open wounds, especially ones with pus, as infectious.  Cover and treat with an antibiotic and antimicrobial ointment. A common one is mupirocin.
• Do not leave wounds open to “dry out.”
• Seek proper medical attention for any suspicious lesion, pus-leaking lesion, or suspected “spider bite.”
• Finish any course of antibiotics that you are placed on until they are finished.

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Spending time each year with education, taking the necessary precautions and following up on proper care and treatment can save a great deal of time and money in an athletic season. A widespread infection throughout a team can quickly derail what might have been a successful and rewarding season.

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Dave Walston is an assistant athletic trainer with the Indianapolis Colts, and has been a Colts athletic trainer since 1993.