An ordinary skin wound can turn into a life-threatening blood or bone infection. Ick. From Sports Officials Warn of Skin Infection:
Health and sports officials are warning schools and sports teams about a hard-to-treat skin infection once common to hospitals and prisons that’s now plaguing athletes on the playing field.
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Though usually mild, methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) can progress to a life-threatening blood or bone infection. Several athletes who got the infection have been hospitalized.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the infection, which can look like an ordinary skin wound or a boil, is often not diagnosed or ends up being treated with antibiotics that can’t cure it. Symptoms include fever, pus, swelling or pain.