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.

Staph infections are increasingly common, said R. Doug Hardy, an infectious-disease expert at UT Southwestern and Children's Medical Center Dallas.

"Our numbers go up every year," Dr. Hardy said.

A strain of staph infection resistant to common antibiotics now makes up the bulk of the skin infections that doctors in Texas see.

"We're definitely kind of a hotbed for resistant staph," he said.

Untreated skin infections can lead to bone and joint infections and, in rare cases, death.

Plano joins the ranks of the Minnesota Vikings and Virginia Tech in banking on the protective coating from SportCoatings, a Michigan-based company. It is the first school district in the area to use the product.

For $5,000, the district bought two years of protection at the senior high indoor fields. The company is marketing its product to other area schools. The University of Tulsa is scheduled soon.

But just how much of a difference the treatment makes in preventing transmission of staph is up for debate.

Staph bacteria can cause infections through open wounds or abrasions. The easiest way to transmit it is through skin-to-skin contact or by sharing items that come into close contact with skin, such as towels, bar soap and sports equipment, Dr. Hardy said.

Parents shouldn't be concerned about children contracting staph through desk chairs, tables, water fountains and playground equipment, Dr. Hardy said.

"It's more keeping people clean, keeping their hands clean and keeping their wounds covered."

Andy McNitt, associate professor of soil science at Pennsylvania State University, said his study of artificial turf samples from 20 fields found no staph.

"These fields are not some kind of breeding ground for staph," he said. "In fact, the opposite is true."

Still, staph can be found on inanimate objects, and no one can say it's impossible for the infection to be transmitted through turf.

Medical studies have shown staph can live on synthetic surfaces, and staph transmissions and turf have been linked anecdotally, said Wendy Orthman, a spokeswoman for Coatings Specialist Group, SportCoatings' umbrella company.

"It's certainly difficult to pinpoint exactly where someone got a staph infection," she said. "What our product provides is peace of mind," she said.

Schools that use the product along with other safeguards know they've done everything they can to protect players, Ms. Orthman said.

Plano's decision to have the fields sprayed is its latest effort to combat staph infections. The district also frequently cleans athletic equipment and locker rooms, and it urges students to shower after play.

"We've been fortunate not to have many cases," Mr. Odenwald said. "If you are proactive enough, you can definitely cut the numbers down."

E-mail kbreen@dallasnews.com

WHAT IS STAPH?

Staphylococcus aureus bacterium is common (many people have some living on their skin or in their nose), but when it enters the human body, usually through a cut or other break in the skin, it can cause infection. MRSA is a type of staph that is resistant to common antibiotics.

WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE?

Staph bacteria can cause skin infections that may look like a pimple or boil and can be red, swollen, painful and have pus or other drainage. More serious infections may cause pneumonia or bloodstream infections.

TO AVOID INFECTION:

Wash hands thoroughly and often with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Keep cuts clean and covered with a bandage until healed.

Avoid touching other people's wounds or bandages. Don't share towels, washcloths, razors, soap or other personal items.