The
Super Bug- Staph Scare in the Gym Setting
By
Centers for Disease Control
Staphylococcus
aureus,
often referred to simply as "staph," are bacteria commonly
carried on the skin or in the nose of healthy people. 85% of staph
infections occur among persons in hospitals and healthcare facilities who
have weakened immune systems. These healthcare-associated staph infections
include surgical wound infections, urinary tract infections, bloods stream
infections, & pneumonia and are generally, successfully treated with
antibiotics. Methicillin-resistant
Staphylococcus
Aureus (MRSA) is a type of staph “super bug” that is
resistant to certain antibiotics. These antibiotics include methicillin
and other more common antibiotics such as oxacillin, penicillin and
amoxicillin.
Staph and MRSA can also cause illness in persons outside
of hospitals and healthcare facilities.
Known as CA-MRSA or Community Associated MRSA, these infections are
of particular concern to those who spend a lot of time in the gym. Staph
or MRSA infections in the community are usually manifested as skin
infections, such as pimples or boils, and occur in otherwise healthy
people. These
CA-MRSA infections account for 14% of all staph infections and are transmitted most frequently by direct
skin-to-skin contact.
Don’t let this information scare you out of the gym.
All you need to do is practice good hygiene and proper gym
etiquette to keep that body healthy.
Follow these simple steps to prevent staph or MRSA
infections:
1.
Keep your hands clean by frequently washing thoroughly with soap &
water or using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer and shower after every
workout.
2.
Keep cuts and scrapes clean & covered with a clean, dry bandage until
healed.
3.
Avoid contact with other people’s wounds or bandages.
4.
Avoid sharing personal items such as towels or razors.
5.
Use a barrier (e.g., a towel) between your skin and shared equipment /
benches.
6.
Wipe surfaces of equipment before and after use.
For more information on how to prevent MRSA, please visit:
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dhqp/ar_mrsa_ca_prevention.html
