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Clean Hands → Healthy Wrestlers: Effectiveness of Hand Cleaning in Reducing Bacterial Load During Wrestling Competitions

Health Sciences Research
Vol.5 , No. 2, Publication Date: May 16, 2018, Page: 43-49

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Authors

[1]	Linda Mull Young, Department of Biological and Allied Health Sciences, Ohio Northern University, Ada, Ohio.
[2]	Brooke Peters, Department of Biological and Allied Health Sciences, Ohio Northern University, Ada, Ohio.
[3]	Addie Davis, Department of Biological and Allied Health Sciences, Ohio Northern University, Ada, Ohio.
[4]	Katherine Krynak, Department of Biological and Allied Health Sciences, Ohio Northern University, Ada, Ohio.
[5]	Ronald Beaschler, Department of Athletics, Ohio Northern University, Ada, Ohio.
[6]	Holly Dyer, Department of Biological and Allied Health Sciences, Ohio Northern University, Ada, Ohio.
[7]	Vicki Abrams Motz, Department of Biological and Allied Health Sciences, Ohio Northern University, Ada, Ohio.

Abstract

The spread of infections due to close contact with other grapplers, mats and apparel has been of major concern in the sport of wrestling. This study compared the use of a variety of hand and mat cleaners and application methods to determine their efficacy in reducing bacterial load in the wrestling environment. Effect of cleanser type was compared in wrestling practices, laboratory experiments with controlled application of bacteria, and in one large-scale, multi-school invitational meet. Repeated use of non-residual cleaners such as cleaning mats with bleach and hands with alcohol gel or single use of residual hand cleansers such as Clean Contact^TM were most effective at reducing bacterial abundance and resulted in similar bacterial community composition on wrestling mats. Based on this data, judicious hand sanitizing has the potential to protect wrestlers from bacterial contamination.

Keywords

Hand Cleansing, Sports Infections, Pathogen Transmission, Microbiome

Reference

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