Staph Infections in Wrestling and Jiu-Jitsu: A Prevention Checklist

Why wrestlers and grapplers get staph

Wrestling and jiu-jitsu check every box for how staph spreads. Public-health guidance sums it up as crowding, frequent skin-to-skin contact, broken skin, shared or contaminated items, and gaps in cleanliness.² A single round can involve all five: mat burns and scrapes, a training partner’s sweat, a shared mat, and a gi that sat in a bag overnight.

Most of the time, staph lives on skin or in the nose without causing trouble. The problem starts when it gets into a cut or scrape. That’s why the habits below focus on two things: keeping skin intact and covered, and cutting down how much staph you pick up and carry around.

Before training

• Check your skin. Look for new cuts, scrapes, and anything red or tender.
• Cover every cut or scrape with a clean, dry bandage that will stay put.
• Skip training if you have an open wound you can’t cover, or a spot that looks infected.
• Trim your nails so you don’t scratch your partners (or yourself).
• Bring your own water bottle and towel.

On the mat

• Wear a clean gi or rash guard every single session.
• Keep shoes off the mat, and flip-flops on everywhere else.
• Don’t share towels, razors, or gear.
• Tell your coach if you notice a suspicious spot on yourself or a partner.

After training

• Shower as soon as you can after class, with soap, before you do anything else.
• Wash your gi and rash guard after every session. Follow the care label, and dry them completely.
• Don’t leave damp gear in your bag. Take it out the moment you get home.
• Wash your belt, knee pads and bag regularly too.

What your gym should be doing

Good academies clean and disinfect the mats every day, using a product registered for the job and following the label’s contact time.² They also have a clear rule for skin issues: if in doubt, sit out until a doctor clears you. If your gym doesn’t do either, it’s fair to ask.

Where probiotics fit LEGAL

Hygiene comes first. But researchers have also been looking at the other side of the problem: the staph people carry inside their bodies. In a 2023 phase 2 trial led by the National Institutes of Health, 115 people who carried staph took either a Bacillus subtilis probiotic or a placebo for four weeks.³ In the probiotic group, staph in the gut fell by 96.8% and staph in the nose by 65.4%. The placebo group showed no change.

The researchers note that the probiotic doesn’t kill staph. It interferes with its ability to settle in, and larger, longer studies are still to come.³ The trial used its own strain; Staph Aid uses a different B. subtilis strain and was not part of this research. Staph Aid is a daily supplement, not a replacement for hygiene or medical care.

When to see a doctor

See a doctor if you have a bump or patch that is red, swollen, warm, painful, or has pus, especially if it’s getting worse or you have a fever. Don’t try to drain it yourself, and don’t train until you’re cleared. Staph and ringworm can look alike early on, and they need different treatment.

This article is for general education and is not medical advice. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.