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Prevention of Infectious Disease Transmission in Sports

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Summary

A variety of infectious diseases can be transmitted during competitive sports. Modes of transmission in athletic settings include person-to-person contact, common-source exposures and airborne/droplet spread. This paper reviews the most commonly reported infectious diseases among athletes and discusses the potential for transmission of bloodborne diseases in sports. Guidelines are provided regarding measures to prevent transmission of infectious diseases in athletic settings, including hygiene and infection control practices, vaccination, and education of officials, coaches, trainers and sports participants.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Hepatitis Branch, Division of Viral and Rickettsial Diseases, National Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Mailstop G37, 1600 Clifton Road, Atlanta, Georgia, 30333, USA

    Eric E. Mast

  2. Office of the Director, Epidemiology Program Office, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA

    Richard A. Goodman

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  1. Eric E. Mast
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  2. Richard A. Goodman
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Mast, E.E., Goodman, R.A. Prevention of Infectious Disease Transmission in Sports. Sports Med 24, 1–7 (1997). https://doi.org/10.2165/00007256-199724010-00001

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