From Gordon Ryan to Stephan Bonnar, staph infection is quite rampant in the grappling and MMA worlds. Unfortunately, getting a staph infection BJJ could be your worst day at the gym. It could land you in a hospital or even deal with death. In some cases, staph infection could lead to sepsis. There is also a chance that you’re dealing with staph bacteria that’s resistant to some of the most powerful antibiotics.
Staph Infection BJJ
How do you get a staph infection and what causes it? The term staph infection is broad. The more common type of staph is Staphylococcus aureus. However, given the prevalence of antibiotic abuse, MRSA or methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus is now seen not only in hospital settings.
Normally, Staphylococcus bacteria are part of our body’s normal flora. It’s something that can be found in the skin, mouth, anal area, and other parts of the body. However, it doesn’t mean that it always exhibits symptoms.
Some infections look more like a simple boil while there are also those instances when it’s life-threatening. The difference depends on different factors. How fast is the staph spreading in your body? What kind of staphylococcus bacteria are we dealing with? And lastly, is it something that antibiotics can deal with?
How Does It Spread?
Understanding how the bacteria spread is just as important as knowing its cure. Staph bacteria can transfer faster through wounds and skin-to-skin contact. Also, certain conditions make staph infection easier to spread.
Aside from those with existing wounds, those with a weak immune system are prone to having staph infection. People who are under insulin medication are also more prone to having staph infection.
Now, given the reality that BJJ or MMA is a contact sport, what can you do about it? The good news is that there several precautions that can be done to prevent the spread of staph infection.
Ways to Prevent the Spread of a BJJ Staph Infection
Know the signs of staph infection
A great way to avoid the spread of staph infection BJJ is by knowing what staph infection is. Once you’ve spotted signs of staph infection, you should immediately stop training and go to your health professional.
Common signs to watch out for include boils, redness on the skin, and rashes. Don’t take these signs lightly. Inform your coach and other training partners so they can also watch out if they may have contracted staph, as well.
Keep the uniforms and gym clean
A basic but effective strategy to avoid staph infection from spreading is to keep the uniforms and gym clean.
If you’re a coach, don’t allow students to train if they don’t have clean training gear. Some gyms offer uniform cleaning services for people who don’t have time to worry about their dirty laundry after training. In addition to this, some gyms have gi rentals for new students. Gi rentals are also available for gym members who don’t have enough gis in their rotation.
Always wear a clean belt
There are a lot of superstitions in BJJ. From belting practices after you get promoted to not washing your belt, these are things that don’t make sense. The belt is part of your uniform. And just like any training gear, it can harbor microorganisms. If you wear a dirty belt, just imagine the microorganisms that you could pass or get from it.
And sorry to burst your bubble, it doesn’t have some magical power. You won’t lose your BJJ skills if you start washing your belt. If you train every day, it is even best to have extra belts in your closet. This way, you can always just grab a new one and train.
Wear rash guards underneath the gi
There are a growing number of gyms that now require students to wear a rashguard even if it’s not nogi days. Having a rashguard reduces skin-to-skin contact with other people who you get to roll with. In addition to this, it also helps lessen the sweat bombs that get to your opponent’s face. Some gyms will even go to the extent of requiring long spats and long-sleeved rashguards underneath.
Frequent hand washing
Jiu jitsu requires a lot of grips. It’s common to grab your partner and post on the mats. Hand washing is a great practice in preventing not only staph infection but other infections too. As a rule of thumb, wash your hands before and after training. And when washing your hands, wash your hands with antimicrobial soap for at least 20 seconds. You might also want to apply alcohol on your hands after a few rolls with different people.
Trim your nails
Aside from skin-to-skin contact, you can also get infected with Staphylococcus bacteria when you have an open wound. With short nails, there’s a lesser chance of scratching your partner’s skin. Be sure to also cut your toenails short.
Keep your feet clean
Aside from washing the hands, it is equally important to keep the feet clean. Imagine playing spider guard and you’re dealing with someone who has dirty feet? There are even instances when the feet get in contact with your chest, neck, and hands.
As a rule of thumb, always wash your feet before training. Also, never leave the mats without wearing your shoes or slippers. It is even best if you can have dedicated gym slippers that you wear only inside the gym premises.
Shower immediately after training
Gyms that don’t have any accessible showers tend to have high cases of staph infection. And this isn’t exactly surprising. You want to make sure to immediately head to the shower area right after you bow out. You also need to invest in antibacterial soap and shampoo to make sure that you are clean before you head to work or home. And also, you’ll need to have your towel to keep you dry after cleaning yourself.
There are also instances when you have to shower before training. If you came from work and you’re exposed to dirt and you’re sweating, then it is best to go early to have a quick shower in the gym.
Always have a clean set of clothes
Next, it is also ideal to have a clean set of clothes that you’ll wear after you work out. This prevents getting staph back from dirty clothes that you’ve worn. Always make it a habit to have a checklist. This way, you don’t have to wear underwear that’s soaking in sweat after you’ve already cleaned yourself.
Coaches: replace things you use for maintenance
Apart from cleaning the gym, it is also important to take care of the cleaning equipment. Clean the vacuum cleaner and replace its filter to make sure that it can clean the environment well. Also, it is important to buy new mop heads every few weeks. And don’t skimp on anti-microbial cleaners when disinfecting mops and other cleaning equipment.
Encourage team hygiene
Hygiene isn’t just something that you do on your own. To avoid getting staph, the gym needs to encourage hygiene to become part of the team’s culture. This means that sharing unwashed gear should be highly discouraged. Also, there should be a standard of cleanliness for every student.
Also, check out our article on treating and preventing another BJJ injury: mat burn.
What Makes Staph Infections Rampant in Jiu Jitsu?
You may have heard of high-level grapplers suffering from staph infection. In 2021, Gordon Ryan announced that he was taking a hiatus from competing because of his health issues. Gordon said that he suffered gastrointestinal issues since taking antibiotics for his staph infection.
What makes it rampant in BJJ gyms apart from the fact that it’s a contact sport? Unfortunately, not all gyms prioritize good hygiene. Some gyms equate “grit” with the unhygienic practices in their facility.
Some are simply unaware that what they already have is staph infection. It is best for a gym to orient all members from white belt to black belt about the dangers and the signs of staph infection.
There are a growing number of BJJ gyms that put hygiene and safety on top of everything that they do. Some gyms even implement an all-white policy, perhaps to give the impression that everyone needs to watch their hygiene.
Worst Case of Staph Infection
If left untreated, a staph infection can become a serious problem. Staph doesn’t just stay on your skin. There are conditions where staph goes to other parts of the body and cause different problems. For instance, if it finds its way towards the bloodstream, then you have a chance of experiencing septicemia. Also, if it gets to the heart, then you could end up having endocarditis.
Unfortunately, staph infections are quite rampant. In the US, many people suffer from staph infections every year.
Getting Rid of Staph: How to Treat a BJJ Staph Infection
There is no denying that getting staph infection can be annoying. However, if you find yourself having staph infection, the first thing that you should do is to not panic. At times, people panic because of the things that they read or see online. But in reality, you just have to get rid of the staph infection the soonest you see any of its signs.
Do not self-medicate, consult a physician
The sad reality is that MRSA exists because people tend to abuse antibiotics. There are parts of the world where antibiotics can be bought over the counter without the need for a prescription. Unlike before when MRSA is only found in hospital settings, it is now found even on the mats.
If you take the wrong antibiotics, there is a chance that bacteria become resistant to them. That’s exactly what MRSA is. Methicillin is considered a powerful antibiotic. This means that there are only a few antibiotics that can address this type of Staphylococcus aureus bacteria. When dealing with MRSA, available antibiotics include vancomycin, linezolid, and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole.
If you suspect having staph infection, go to your doctor. Your doctor will have an idea whether you’re dealing with ringworm, staph, or something else.
Though there is a chance that you’ll take oral antibiotics, there are cases when doctors will recommend topical creams. If you’re going to take antibiotics, it is a must that you follow the doctor’s instructions. Finish the number of days you’re required to take the antibiotics.
Surgery
Aside from antibiotics, there is also a chance that the doctor is going to drain the pus out of the boil. Doctors can make an incision and let the pus out to make the recovery faster. However, you shouldn’t drain the pus on your own.
Stop training once you have it
It could be hard to stop training for a lot of people, but this is for the best if you have staph infection. And it is not just staph that can be passed to training partners. If you’re sick, it is best if you don’t train.
How to Diagnose Staph Infection
Doctors diagnose staph infections depending on which part of the body is affected. Staph is easiest to diagnose once it infected your skin. However, doctors don’t just prescribe antibiotics. They’d still have to run a separate test. Gram stain testing and bacterial culture test are done to know the type of bacteria they are dealing with.
Now, if the staph infection is found somewhere else, doctors will test other samples. If it causes mastitis, then doctors typically test the milk. Also, if you’re already suffering from toxic shock syndrome because of staph, then the doctors will take a blood sample.
Conclusion
Staph infection is something that Jiu Jitsu practitioners and BJJ gyms should take seriously. Staph infection BJJ could lead to serious problems. There are instances when it doesn’t just involve the skin. There are cases when it would require hospitalization and could even affect the heart or cause sepsis. Staph infection is avoidable if the academy and its members practice good hygiene.