Lions cleared of staph fears after tests - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

Lions cleared of staph fears after tests

By Laine Clark 15/07/2009 07:13:01 PM Comments (0)

A "high level" of bacteria has been found in areas of the Brisbane Lions' player rooms after extensive testing.

But results show they are not the source of an aggressive "super bug" that struck down No.1 ruckman Matthew Leuenberger and assistant coach Craig Brittain with post-operation staph infections.

The AFL club has also attempted to smooth their relationship with St Andrews hospital after finger pointing followed the second staph infection at the Lions.

Brisbane launched an inquiry last month when Brittain suffered the same infection just months after Leuenberger.

Severe cases can lead to amputation.

Leuenberger has made a full recovery and is expected back on the field in six weeks while Brittain could be out of hospital by Friday.

Both had knee surgery at inner-city Brisbane hospital St Andrews.

A row erupted when a hospital spokesman quickly ruled out the possibility of the infection being contracted at St Andrews.

The spokesman also said the Lions' Gabba dressing rooms were the "perfect environment" to harbour bacteria for such an infection.

Lions boss Michael Bowers was initially unimpressed by the hospital's statement.

And when key defender Jed Adcock suffered a season ending knee injury last weekend there was speculation that they would end their association with the hospital and seek a Sydney surgeon.

However, Bowers went out of his way on Wednesday to back St Andrews.

"The Brisbane Lions wish to express their utmost confidence in the St Andrews Hospital, the club's medical practitioners and all their medical practices associated with the club," Bowers said.

"St Andrews hospital has satisfied us that the staphylococcus caprae infection suffered by our player and coach was community-based and not hospital-based.

"Looking forward, we are now reviewing all hygiene, cleaning and maintenance practices in and around our football department - as well as all our pre-operative and post-operative procedures - to ensure the safest possible environment for our people."

Bowers said only two areas at the club tested positive.

But neither were matches to the staph infection that struck down their staff members.

"The sampling done at over 40 different locations around our football department found no direct match," Bowers said.

"The biological sampling did uncover one positive result for a different staphylococcus on a massage table and a high level of bacteria in the therapeutic spa where there are wet conditions experiencing high human traffic.

"The Lions have since 'bombed' these two risk areas and all other player rooms with heavy disinfectant under Queensland Health guidelines.

"Post fogging tests show there is no reasonable or immediate hygiene risk to any club players or staff."

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