While methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus is a problem for some hospital patients, a former NFL player blamed a MRSA infection — and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, his former team — for ending his career.
According to ESPN, Lawrence Tynes, a former kicker with the Buccaneers, sued the team, alleging that unsanitary conditions in the team's facility led to a MRSA infection that subsequently ended his football career.
Mr. Tynes alleges that the Bucs did not disclose that other people who frequented the facility had MRSA and that the team did not adequately sterilize surfaces and devices, according to ESPN.
Mr. Tynes' MRSA infection was on his toe, and the toe nearly had to be amputated because of the infection. Two other Bucs players also contracted MRSA around the same time as Mr. Tynes.
MRSA can cause life-threatening infections, especially when contracted in medical facilities. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, most MRSA infections in the community are skin infections like Mr. Tynes'.
The Bucs told ESPN that the team doesn't comment on pending litigation.