10 Million Square Feet of Turf Set to be Treated in 2008 in Response to MRSA Outbreaks Nationwide

ROCHESTER HILLS, Mich., Jan. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- CSG/SportsCoatings, today announced approximately 10 million square feet of synthetic turf will be treated with its industry-leading antimicrobial coating, TurfAide(TM), in 2008 -- up from 1.5 million square feet in 2007.

The exponential increase in demand for TurfAide has been attributed to several factors, including a 2007 report in the Journal of the American Medical Association that found MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphlycoccus aureas) is responsible for more than 94,000 serious infections and nearly 19,000 deaths each year. MRSA, a potentially deadly skin infection, is caused by staph bacteria that can survive on surfaces for days. The antimicrobial technology in TurfAide is proven to inhibit the growth of bacteria, fungi and mold for years with just one application.

According to three studies conducted by the Texas Department of State Health Services, the MRSA infection rate among football players is 16 times higher than the average person. Texas has synthetic turf at 18 percent of its high school fields.

"Schools, professional teams and recreation centers are recognizing the growing threat of sports-related infections," said CSG/SportsCoatings CEO Craig Andrews. "More synthetic turf systems will be treated with TurfAide than all other antimicrobial products combined in 2008; because it's a proven and powerful technology that's been safely used in medical and consumer goods for over 30 years."

"With bacterial infections like MRSA and fungi like ringworm affecting many student athletes across the country, the need to protect your facilities has become a necessity," said Jim Weaver, Virginia Tech University Athletics Director.

Virginia Tech University is one of many major Division I programs, National Football League franchises and high schools that have had their synthetic turf fields treated with TurfAide in the past 18 months. A small sampling of TurfAide clients includes: the NFL's New England Patriots, Minnesota Vikings, Cleveland Browns; the University of South Carolina and University of Tulsa; and the entire Plano Intermediate School District in Texas.

TurfAide made headlines in 2007 when the exclusive provider of AstroTurf(R) USA, General Sports Venue, made the choice to treat all of its turf systems with TurfAide at the factory level beginning in 2008.

"With infections such as staph and MRSA on the rise in the sports community, we are committed to providing the best defense available," said Michael Dennis, chairman of GSV.

Visit www.csgsportscoatings.com to find out more about the technology used in TurfAide.