Antimicrobial Resistance and Sports: The Scope of the Problem, Implications for Athletes’ Health and Avenues for Collaborative Public Health Action
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a global threat, leading to increased mortality and necessitating urgent action—however, its impact on athletes and the world of sports has hitherto been neglected. Sports environments (including athletic and aquatic) exhibit high levels of microbial contaminatio...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2024-02-01
|
| Series: | Antibiotics |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6382/13/3/232 |
| _version_ | 1797242259764150272 |
|---|---|
| author | Ognjen Ožegić Branka Bedenić Sunčanica Ljubin Sternak Mario Sviben Jasminka Talapko Iva Pažur Ivana Škrlec Ivan Segedi Tomislav Meštrović |
| author_facet | Ognjen Ožegić Branka Bedenić Sunčanica Ljubin Sternak Mario Sviben Jasminka Talapko Iva Pažur Ivana Škrlec Ivan Segedi Tomislav Meštrović |
| author_sort | Ognjen Ožegić |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a global threat, leading to increased mortality and necessitating urgent action—however, its impact on athletes and the world of sports has hitherto been neglected. Sports environments (including athletic and aquatic) exhibit high levels of microbial contamination, potentially contributing to the spread of resistant microorganisms during physical activities. Moreover, the literature suggests that travel for sports events may lead to changes in athletes’ gut microbiomes and potentially impact their antibiotic resistance profiles, raising questions about the broader implications for individual and public/global health. The prevalence of <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> (<i>S. aureus</i>) among athletes (particularly those engaged in contact or collision sports) ranges between 22.4% and 68.6%, with MRSA strains being isolated in up to 34.9% of tested individuals. Factors such as training frequency, equipment sharing, delayed post-training showers, and a history of certain medical conditions are linked to higher colonization rates. Moreover, MRSA outbreaks have been documented in sports teams previously, highlighting the importance of implementing preventive measures and hygiene protocols in athletic settings. In light of the growing threat of AMR, there is a critical need for evidence-based treatment guidelines tailored to athletes’ unique physiological demands to ensure responsible antibiotic use and mitigate potential health risks. While various initiatives—such as incorporating AMR awareness into major sporting events—aim to leverage the broad audience of sports to communicate the importance of addressing AMR, proactive measures (including improved AMR surveillance during large sporting events) will be indispensable for enhancing preparedness and safeguarding both athletes’ and the general public’s health. This narrative review thoroughly assesses the existing literature on AMR and antibiotic usage in the context of sports, aiming to illuminate areas where information may be lacking and underscoring the significance of promoting global awareness about AMR through sports. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T18:36:23Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-2a53279115834dc6af554f42dc5d5c47 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2079-6382 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T18:36:23Z |
| publishDate | 2024-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Antibiotics |
| spelling | doaj.art-2a53279115834dc6af554f42dc5d5c472024-03-27T13:18:08ZengMDPI AGAntibiotics2079-63822024-02-0113323210.3390/antibiotics13030232Antimicrobial Resistance and Sports: The Scope of the Problem, Implications for Athletes’ Health and Avenues for Collaborative Public Health ActionOgnjen Ožegić0Branka Bedenić1Sunčanica Ljubin Sternak2Mario Sviben3Jasminka Talapko4Iva Pažur5Ivana Škrlec6Ivan Segedi7Tomislav Meštrović8Department of Anaesthesiology, Intensive Medicine and Pain Management, Sestre Milosrdnice University Hospital Center, 10000 Zagreb, CroatiaMedical Microbiology Department, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, CroatiaMedical Microbiology Department, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, CroatiaMedical Microbiology Department, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, CroatiaFaculty of Dental Medicine and Health, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, 31000 Osijek, CroatiaDepartment of Anaesthesiology, Intensive Medicine and Pain Management, Sestre Milosrdnice University Hospital Center, 10000 Zagreb, CroatiaFaculty of Dental Medicine and Health, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, 31000 Osijek, CroatiaFaculty of Kinesiology, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, CroatiaUniversity Centre Varaždin, University North, 42000 Varaždin, CroatiaAntimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a global threat, leading to increased mortality and necessitating urgent action—however, its impact on athletes and the world of sports has hitherto been neglected. Sports environments (including athletic and aquatic) exhibit high levels of microbial contamination, potentially contributing to the spread of resistant microorganisms during physical activities. Moreover, the literature suggests that travel for sports events may lead to changes in athletes’ gut microbiomes and potentially impact their antibiotic resistance profiles, raising questions about the broader implications for individual and public/global health. The prevalence of <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> (<i>S. aureus</i>) among athletes (particularly those engaged in contact or collision sports) ranges between 22.4% and 68.6%, with MRSA strains being isolated in up to 34.9% of tested individuals. Factors such as training frequency, equipment sharing, delayed post-training showers, and a history of certain medical conditions are linked to higher colonization rates. Moreover, MRSA outbreaks have been documented in sports teams previously, highlighting the importance of implementing preventive measures and hygiene protocols in athletic settings. In light of the growing threat of AMR, there is a critical need for evidence-based treatment guidelines tailored to athletes’ unique physiological demands to ensure responsible antibiotic use and mitigate potential health risks. While various initiatives—such as incorporating AMR awareness into major sporting events—aim to leverage the broad audience of sports to communicate the importance of addressing AMR, proactive measures (including improved AMR surveillance during large sporting events) will be indispensable for enhancing preparedness and safeguarding both athletes’ and the general public’s health. This narrative review thoroughly assesses the existing literature on AMR and antibiotic usage in the context of sports, aiming to illuminate areas where information may be lacking and underscoring the significance of promoting global awareness about AMR through sports.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6382/13/3/232antimicrobial resistanceantibiotics<i>Staphylococcus aureus</i>MRSAsportsathletes |
| spellingShingle | Ognjen Ožegić Branka Bedenić Sunčanica Ljubin Sternak Mario Sviben Jasminka Talapko Iva Pažur Ivana Škrlec Ivan Segedi Tomislav Meštrović Antimicrobial Resistance and Sports: The Scope of the Problem, Implications for Athletes’ Health and Avenues for Collaborative Public Health Action Antibiotics antimicrobial resistance antibiotics <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> MRSA sports athletes |
| title | Antimicrobial Resistance and Sports: The Scope of the Problem, Implications for Athletes’ Health and Avenues for Collaborative Public Health Action |
| title_full | Antimicrobial Resistance and Sports: The Scope of the Problem, Implications for Athletes’ Health and Avenues for Collaborative Public Health Action |
| title_fullStr | Antimicrobial Resistance and Sports: The Scope of the Problem, Implications for Athletes’ Health and Avenues for Collaborative Public Health Action |
| title_full_unstemmed | Antimicrobial Resistance and Sports: The Scope of the Problem, Implications for Athletes’ Health and Avenues for Collaborative Public Health Action |
| title_short | Antimicrobial Resistance and Sports: The Scope of the Problem, Implications for Athletes’ Health and Avenues for Collaborative Public Health Action |
| title_sort | antimicrobial resistance and sports the scope of the problem implications for athletes health and avenues for collaborative public health action |
| topic | antimicrobial resistance antibiotics <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> MRSA sports athletes |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6382/13/3/232 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT ognjenozegic antimicrobialresistanceandsportsthescopeoftheproblemimplicationsforathleteshealthandavenuesforcollaborativepublichealthaction AT brankabedenic antimicrobialresistanceandsportsthescopeoftheproblemimplicationsforathleteshealthandavenuesforcollaborativepublichealthaction AT suncanicaljubinsternak antimicrobialresistanceandsportsthescopeoftheproblemimplicationsforathleteshealthandavenuesforcollaborativepublichealthaction AT mariosviben antimicrobialresistanceandsportsthescopeoftheproblemimplicationsforathleteshealthandavenuesforcollaborativepublichealthaction AT jasminkatalapko antimicrobialresistanceandsportsthescopeoftheproblemimplicationsforathleteshealthandavenuesforcollaborativepublichealthaction AT ivapazur antimicrobialresistanceandsportsthescopeoftheproblemimplicationsforathleteshealthandavenuesforcollaborativepublichealthaction AT ivanaskrlec antimicrobialresistanceandsportsthescopeoftheproblemimplicationsforathleteshealthandavenuesforcollaborativepublichealthaction AT ivansegedi antimicrobialresistanceandsportsthescopeoftheproblemimplicationsforathleteshealthandavenuesforcollaborativepublichealthaction AT tomislavmestrovic antimicrobialresistanceandsportsthescopeoftheproblemimplicationsforathleteshealthandavenuesforcollaborativepublichealthaction |