Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) is a bacterium responsible for several difficult-to-treat infections in human, and the ones who are most likely to get infected are athletes in contact sports.
New York Giants tight end Daniel Fells has been diagnosed with the superbug MRSA. According to NJ.com, he has been required multiple surgeries to treat the infection. This deadly MRSA bacteria isn't rare at all; approximately two out of 100 people carry it in their noses. Most of the time it doesn't cause any problem, but it can be passed to other people. It becomes really dangerous if it gets into a wound through a break in the skin or through a medical procedure, because it can take the life of the infected person really quickly.
According to CNN, cases of MRSA have greatly become a concern outside the hospital. Athletes who are participating in contact sports are at particularly high risk. Fells is not the first NFL player to contract the superbug. "It's a very serious thing, has been that way in this league for quite a few years," Giants coach Tom Coughlin told CBS News. "Everyone has been very aware of it." Fells was suffering an ankle injury last week before developing an infection in his foot. He did not go with the team to Buffalo despite being listed as questionable to play. He spent his weekend in the hospital having multiple procedures to get rid of the infections.
A skin infection can start innocently enough, with little bumps on the skin that look like pimples or spider bites. If the skin breaks, the bacteria can use that as an entry point to infect the bloodstream, bones, heart and lungs, causing damage to the affected area. The most effective way to treating MRSA is to catch it fast. If you have an opening on your skin such as a cut, scrape or pimple, looks infected or is accompanied by a fever, experts at the Mayo Clinic advice seeing your doctor as quick as possible.
