Staph Infections

This is what happens if you don't deal with a staph infection immediately. If this were a really bad form of staph, Kevin would be dead now

There is always a chance it may be MRSA, an anti-biotic resistant form of staph
MRSA can kill you within a few days
If caught too late, even anti-biotics will not save you from MRSA
Always get a possible staph infection checked THAT NIGHT at a hospital, DO NOT WAIT

Train at a school that cleans their mats religiously
Shower as soon as possible after EVERY training session - scrub well
Keep cuts and abrasions clean and covered with a proper dressing (e.g., bandage) until healed.
Immediately disinfect any cuts or scrapes after class
Tape and protect pre-existing cuts/scrapes before going to class
Do not store your sweaty training wear in a place where they will stay damp
Keep your damp training gear away from pets, your couch, etc. Consider them contaminated
NEVER bring a dirty GI/Rashgaurd back to the mats - you could be re-contaminating the mats
If you notice a training partner coming to class with dirty gear, EDUCATE them on the dangers

Staph can show up in many forms. Here are some more pics so you are aware

MRSA stands for methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus
Staph bacteria that are resistant to the action of methicillin and related antibiotics are referred to as MRSA
MRSA are not only resistant to all penicillin-like antibiotics, but they are often resistant to many other types of antibiotics as well.
Infections with MRSA can be costly and difficult to treat because of limited antibiotic options.
The proportion of staph infections that are methicillin-resistant has been steadily increasing, especially in the last 15-20 years.
By 2003, the percentage of MRSA among all staph isolates had risen three-fold to 38.6%. Almost 40% of staph found is MRSA now!
MRSA is spread by physical contact, person to person, or person to contaminated object
MRSA symptoms for the most part, not different from any other staph infection
Diagnosis is confirmed by identifying the bacteria grown in a laboratory culture from a sample. The sample may be from a sterile site, such as blood or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), or from a non-sterile site such as a draining lesion or a swab of the back of the nose.

Fortunately, most MRSA still can be treated by certain specific antibiotics (for example, vancomycin (Vancocin), linezolid (Zyvox), and others).
Maggots have been successfully used to treat MRSA ulcers: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2007-05/uom-mrp050307.php
A note of caution is that, in the last few years, there are reports that a new strain of MRSA has evolved that is resistant to vancomycin (VRSA or vancomycin resistant S. aureus) and other antibiotics.

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