CA-MRSA: An Athlete's Life-Threatening Story
16 Year-Old Boone Baker Narrowly Survived CA-MRSA
Jul 5, 2009
Community-associated methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (CA-MIRSA) is a type of staphylococcus infection that is resistant to common antiobiotics including methicillin, penicillin, amoxicillin and oxacillin. The words “community-associated” were added to the name of the infection to denote healthy individuals who had been infected with MRSA without any history of recent healthcare issues (Southern Medical Journal, June, 2005).
MRSA had been further defined to include hospital-associated methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (HA-MRSA). These are patients who have been infected in a hospital or medical setting. Traditionally, extended hospital stays were the primary source for MRSA.
Athletes at Risk for CA-MRSA
Athletes are one of the high risk populations for becoming infected with MRSA due to their close proximity for skin-to-skin contact, shared equipment and towels, poor hygiene, and risk for skin wounds. The bacteria can enter the body through any break in the skin including abrasions, turf burns, and open wounds (Hospital and Nursing Home Week, July, 2008). Although most cases of CA-MRSA are treated successfully, CA-MRSA can remain in the body and resurface as a life-threatening illness for the athlete.
Baker Case Study
Boone Baker played wide receiver for his high school football team. Baker sustained a turf burn on his shoulder during a tackle on artificial turf during a Friday night game. Because abrasions are a regular part of high school football, Boone did not seek medical treatment for his wound. He treated the abrasion on his own after the game.
The following Monday, Boone noticed that the abrasion looked like a “purplish boil” and showed it to his athletic trainer (Texas Monthly, May, 2006). The athletic trainer referred the athlete to his doctor for follow-up care. The physician drained the wound and treated the infection with Septa (antibiotic known to treat MRSA). He was cleared ten days later to play football.
Although the family thought that the MRSA was behind them, the infection resurfaced the following January. Baker became ill with “flu-like” symptoms. His symptoms continued to worsen until he experienced “excruciating back pain”, inability to move his legs, irregular breathing, and neck pain. His family rushed him to the emergency room.
Baker was placed in the intensive-care unit where MRSA was confirmed two days later. In the meanwhile, his body had “erupted in postules”. The physicians gave him massive doses of antibiotics to no avail. His condition continued to worsen.
A full-body MRI revealed two “baseball-size abscesses around the base of the spine”. The physicians surgically removed the abscesses and ordered another round of antibiotics. While still in ICU, the young Baker finally began to improve.
However, he was not out of danger. Baker complained that he could not see out of his right eye. The physicians confirmed that the MRSA had attacked his eye. Continuous treatment of antibiotic ointment to the eye was successful in saving the eye.
His last fight was with blood clots in his legs and a small infection on his lung (required additional surgery). After more than three weeks in the hospital and forty-one pounds lighter, Baker left the hospital. He remained at home for several more months receiving additional intravenous antibiotics.
The physicians believed that the CA-MRSA entered Baker’s body through the turf burn. The Bakers published their story to educate athletes, their families, and medical professionals working with athletes as to what to look for and how to prevent CA-MRSA.
Information on CA-MRSA from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Research is underway as to the most effective measures to take to prevent the spread of CA-MRSA. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has information on their website on how to prevent, detect, and treat CA-MRSA.
Ideally, athletes who sustain open wounds need to have their wounds cleaned, treated, and covered by a certified athletic trainer or other allied health professional. Any athlete with an open wound that looks infected (red, inflamed, swollen, tender) needs to be immediately referred to a physician for evaluation and treatment.
