The Giants placed tight end Daniel Fells on injured reserve Monday after doctors discovered he had a staph infection while treating him for an ankle problem.
Fells needed surgery and remains hospitalized with what several reports say is a MRSA infection. MRSA can be particularly difficult to treat because it is resistant to many types of antibiotics.
The Buccaneers dealt with an outbreak of MRSA in their team facilities a couple of years ago and face a lawsuit from former kicker Lawrence Tynes related to the infection that ended his career. Guard Carl Nicks also saw his career come to an early end after contracting MRSA around the same time.
To avoid anything similar happening in their facility, the Giants announced Tuesday that they have scrubbed their locker room, meeting areas and training rooms under the supervision of infectious disease specialists.
“We are working with infectious disease specialists, and we have defined protocols that we are following in consultation with the Duke Infection Control Outreach Network and local infectious disease specialists,” Giants spokesman Pat Hanlon said. “Those protocols are being followed carefully.”
Dan Graziano of ESPN reports that Fells is expected to recover and there have been no other reported cases of MRSA among Giants players.