Link: Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas
The Plano school district has wiped unwanted guests off its turf.
Artificial turf on three indoor practice fields has been sprayed with a coating to kill algae, fungi and – of particular concern – bacteria, including Staphylococcus aureus.
JUAN GARCIA/DMN
Greg Martell, left, and his twin brother Geoff practice soccer on specially treated artificial turf at Plano Senior High School.
"We’re always looking for improved ways to prevent staph infections," said Cliff Odenwald, the district’s athletic director. He said that he hasn’t heard of any recent cases in the district but that the threat is worrisome. "It’s always a major concern."
Four confirmed and two suspected cases of staph infections recently at Frisco’s Griffin Middle School have put the health concern in the spotlight. Sports teams across the country and locally have reported such infections in recent years, especially among football players.
