With the preseason camps for student athletes underway, the Allegheny County Health Department is reminding coaches, trainers and athletes to take precautions to reduce the risk of MRSA infections.

These Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections are resistant to treatment with ordinary antibiotics and, though once primarily found in hospitals among older and sicker patients, now are growing more common among healthy adults and children. It's showing up, in particular, in athletes who are in close contact with one another and share sports equipment and locker rooms.

Staph bacteria can be present in or on the bodies of 20 percent to 50 percent of all people without causing illness, even if some of the bacteria are antibiotic-resistant. Any staph can penetrate the skin and cause infection, which may result in redness, warmth, pimples or boils, sometimes with or without pus.

If MRSA infections are not diagnosed correctly and are treated with ineffective antibiotics, they may get worse and cause serious illness.

The Health Department says since January, when pediatricians were told to report MRSA infections, 27 cases have been reported. Of these, 80 percent were children 18 and under. All patients recovered.

Staph bacteria are spread mainly by skin-to-skin contact, especially through cuts, wounds or abrasions or by direct contact with contaminated items or surfaces. They may also result from poor hygiene.

Health officials advise these precautions:

Wash hands with soap and warm running water frequently, especially after contact with nose secretions and drainage from skin openings.

Trainers should diligently wash hands before sessions with each athlete.

Skin openings such as cuts should be covered at all times with clean, dry bandages.

Dispose of used bandages in a closed plastic bag so others don't have contact with infectious drainage.

Wear disposable gloves when having contact with an infected wound and wash hands immediately after removing the gloves.

Avoid sharing personal items such as towels, washcloths, razors and clothing that may have come in contact with an infected wound.

Wash soiled linens and clothing in hot water and detergent. Drying in a hot dryer is better than air-drying.

Clean potentially contaminated surfaces with a commercial disinfectant or a bleach-water solution (¹/₄ cup of household bleach to 1 gallon of water).