Putting many people in the same area provides a haven for germs. Beyond a minor cold, a more serious health condition has been getting heightened attention. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a type of bacteria that causes skin infections. MRSA is especially dangerous because it is resistant to several antibiotics, including methicillin, penicillin and amoxicillin.
"I'm not saying that people shouldn't be worried about staph, (but) most infections are pretty mild and can be contained," says Dr. Suzanne Bradley, an infectious disease specialist at the VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System and University of Michigan Health System. "In emergency rooms, 95 percent of infections will be the types that doctors see all the time."
A common bacteria
About 85 percent of MRSA infections were found in health-care settings, according to 2005 data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) was the common strain in the community, Bradley says. "In the last couple of years, we've started to see MRSA in patients who had absolutely no contact with the health-care system," Bradley says.
Staph infections can be prevented with a few easy steps. Keep these tips in mind at gyms, locker rooms or other common spaces.
• Wash hands frequently.
• Shower immediately after working out.
• Use your own towel and bar of soap.
• Put a towel or other buffer between yourself and a shared surface, such as a bench.
• Do not share items that come in contact with your skin.
• If you have open sores or wounds, cover them with clean, dry bandages.
Source: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
"The good news is most of the people that have those kinds of infections do well," Bradley says.
However, infections can become severe with the onset of staph or bacterial pneumonia, which is more likely during flu season. With a typical flu virus, people generally start to feel better after about a week, Bradley says. But if staph or other types of bacterial pneumonia set in, the flu-like symptoms return after a brief period of improvement.
"Staph pneumonia can be pretty serious business, even if it's not MRSA," Bradley says. "If you start feeling sick again, you need to get to a doctor right away."
Staph bacteria occurs naturally in humans, creating difficulty in completely preventing infections, Bradley says. About 10 percent to 20 percent of the human population chronically carries staph bacteria, typically in the nose. However, people can go through their whole lives without being aware of the existence of significant staph bacteria, Bradley says.
"When you're dealing with a bacteria that's a normal part of human flora, it makes it really hard to control," Bradley says. "That's why people have focused on trying to find a way to make a vaccine to boost immunity, so that people won't get sick. We haven't shown that we can prevent infection."
Passing it on
Failure to wash hands in between patients is a major catalyst for spreading staph infections in health-care settings, Bradley says. Staph also can be spread if medical equipment has not been cleaned properly.
In the community, staph infections can occur through skin-to-skin contact, entering the body through open wounds or sores. Using the same towels, razors or touching the same surfaces in locker rooms or fitness centers can facilitate the spread of staph infections as well.
"I think for most people, using plain soap and water is fine," Bradley says. "Using an alcohol-based hand rub is good. I think the bottom line is just do it, and do it often."
Exercise machines are major areas of shared contact. Cleaning in between uses greatly lessens the likelihood of spreading bacteria among members, Bradley says. At both Pro's Gym and Snap Fitness, cardio and resistance machines, as well as weight equipment, are sanitized by the staff and patrons throughout the day.
"Anything that anybody touches is cleaned, wiped down from head to toe," says Holly Flickinger, assistant manager and trainer at Pro's Gym, 202 E. McDevitt Ave. "Usually, all of our members are very good about after using a machine, (then) wiping down all the pads."
In addition to cleaning machines and equipment, Snap Fitness, 1527 Horton Road, provides hand sanitizer to its members. Owner Bob Pringle says no health problems have been reported at the gym since its opening in October 2007. "Really, (the machines) are cleaned on a constant basis," he says.
The real risk
Although staph infections are nothing new in the athletic realm, the likelihood of catching a cold or a virus in a fitness center is higher than contracting a staph infection, because staph does not set in as quickly, Bradley says.
"With the flu, within 48 hours, you're sick. It's very difficult to prevent the flu without taking the vaccine," she says. "With staph, it's going to take a little longer to develop and cause problems, so you have a chance to intervene."
In 2007, staph bacteria made local news when a string of infections, ranging from non-severe to MRSA, hit several area schools, including Grass Lake and Hanover-Horton high schools. When these break-outs occur, the increased attention often causes people to panic, Bradley says. Although staph infections can become severe, simple steps can be extremely effective in keeping staph infections at bay, Bradley says.
"I think we just have to go back and re-address some of those habits that people used to emphasize to prevent infections keeping surfaces clean, washing your hands, covering your mouth when you cough, those kinds of things," Bradley says.