Report: Bucs Dealing With Outbreak Of MRSA
TAMPA (CBSMiami) – Two Tampa Bay Buccaneers players are being treated for methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections and neither the team nor the players know where they contracted the disease, according to a report from FoxSports.com.
Tampa Bay is scheduled to play the Miami Dolphins on Saturday at Sun Life Stadium in the final tuneup for the starting players. The game can be seen exclusively on CBS4.
The two players, Pro Bowl guard Carl Nicks and kicker Lawrence Tynes, have both been out for much of the preseason and both have been said to be dealing with injuries to their feet, according to an ESPN.com report.
According to the FoxSports report, the team has had their facility scrubbed and will have it cleaned again this weekend. Other players have been issued a special soap to use, according to the report.
According to FoxSports, the MRSA outbreak was found while the Bucs were scrimmaging with the New England Patriots last week. Players and coaches learned about the infection on Monday.
MRSA is resistant to some antibiotics making the treatment of the infections tougher. Complicating the problem for teams is that the disease is spread through having contact with the skin infection or personal items used by someone infected like schools and locker rooms.
In addition, some people can get MRSA and become a carrier without ever suffering symptoms of the disease.
FoxSports reported the NFL has had to deal with the problem before, specifically between 2002 and 2006 when 33 players were hit with the sometimes debilitating disease. The Cleveland Browns were hit especially hard with six players suffering MRSA infections including former UM star Kellen Winslow, Jr.
