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Skin Infections and MRSA

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Can I Get Staph or MRSA Infection at a Health Club?

In the outbreaks of MRSA, the environment has not played a significant role in the transmission of MRSA. MRSA is transmitted most frequently by direct skin-to-skin contact. You can protect yourself from infections by practicing good hygiene (listed below), and showering after working out, using a barrier (example - clothing or a towel) between your skin and shared equipment, and wiping surfaces of equipment before and after use.

Good Hygiene:

• Keep your hands clean by washing thoroughly with soap and water. Scrub them briskly for at least 15 seconds, then dry them with a disposable towel and use another towel to turn off the faucet. When you don't have access to soap and water, carry a small bottle of hand sanitizer containing at least 62 percent alcohol.
• Keep cuts and scrapes clean and covered with a bandage until healed. Keep wounds that are draining or have pus covered with clean, dry bandages. Follow your healthcare provider's instructions on proper care of the wound. Pus from infected wounds can contain S. aureus and MRSA, so keeping the infection covered will help prevent the spread to others. Bandages or tape can be discarded with regular trash.
• Avoid contact with other people's wounds or bandages.
• Avoid sharing personal items, such as towels, washcloths, razors, clothes, or uniforms.
• Wash sheets, towels, and clothes that become soiled with water and laundry detergent. Use bleach and hot water if possible. Drying clothes in a hot dryer, rather than air-drying, also helps kill bacteria in clothes.
• Always shower promptly after exercising.
• Tell any healthcare providers who treat you if you have or had an S. aureus or MRSA skin infection. If you have a skin infection that requires treatment, ask your healthcare provider if you should be tested for MRSA. Many healthcare providers prescribe drugs that are not effective against antibiotic-resistant staph, which delays treatment and creates more resistant germs.

References:
1) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) - www.cdc.gov/
2) National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) - www3.niaid.nih.gov/