Unfortunately, complete prevention of MRSA is not currently possible. It's already spread all over the planet, and it's impossible to identify with the human eye. However, there are several measures we can take to significantly reduce the risk of infection. MRSA can exist and survive on surfaces and fabrics, therefore sanitation is the number one preventative. Athletes should immediately shower after engaging in any sort of physical activity, and everyone should regularly wash their hands. It's reported that health care workers in the USA commonly neglect to wash their hands, and if they started doing so, it is predicted that it could save 30,000 MRSA patients a year. Vaporized sanitizers are also very effective at reducing bacteria, as they can reach places that traditional cleaning methods cannot reach. Alcohol is also an effective topical sanitizer.
In contact sports like hockey and football, it's suggested to get the equipment sanitized with "ozone gas", which is another effective method of killing the s. aureus bacteria.
