Drug-Resistant Staph Infections- How to Reduce Your Risk at the Gym

Ok, I know this is a gross subject, but believe it or not, it's been reported that more people may die of staph infections in the US than they do of AIDS. Now there is no need to panic though, just read the article and take some simple precautions to protect yourself.

Drug-resistant staph infections have received a lot of attention in the media lately. Most of the attention has centered on the possibility of contracting a potentially deadly methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection in health-care settings.

Surprisingly, a report published in the Oct.17th Edition of the Journal of the American Medical Association estimated the incidence of MRSA infection in the United States from July 2004 through December 2005, and many of the infections were not contracted in a health care setting. Of the 8987 cases of MRSA uncovered, 58.4% were found in community health care settings, 26.6% were in hospitals, 13.7% were not associated with health care settings, and 1.3% were undetermined. Based on the data, the researchers estimated there were 94,360 cases of invasive MRSA in the United States in 2005, accounting for 18,650 deaths.

MRSA contracted outside of the health community is passed on from person-to-person from casual contact, such as through contact sports, or sharing towels and exercise equipment. Several outbreaks have been reported in schools across the United States in locker rooms and gyms. Infected athletes with minor cuts and scrapes spread most of the infections to others by sharing equipment. Athletes such as football players and wrestlers are more likely to contract the infection. MRSA can cause minor infections such as pimples or boils, or more serious infections including abscesses, pneumonia, and bloodstream infections.

Here are some important things to do to reduce your risk of contracting MRSA:

• Always clean equipment and benches before and after use. Pay special attention to dumbbell handles and handrails on cardio equipment, where bacteria are most likely to grow
• Never share personal items such as towels and soap with others
• If sharing equipment such as boxing gloves, disinfect before use with a phenol-containing product such as Lysol.
• Wash your hands regularly, and avoid touching your nose
• Cover up any cuts or scrapes
• Wear sandals if showering at the gym, and avoid shared whirlpool tubs

UPDATE: MFT Member hardcorex2 reports on MSRA infection at local gym and MFT member Romah reports on a hospital related staph infection. Read more here: http://www.myfittribe.com/blogs/hardcorex2/20071023/staph-infection.html