You work out at the gym as a way to get healthier, so the last thing you expect is to get sick from being there. But that is exactly what can happen if you contract a staph infection, such as methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA, through contact with unsanitary gym surfaces and objects. Although your risk of getting a staph infection at the local gym is relatively low, it is still possible, so make sure you are informed and proactive.
Definitions
Staph infections, which are antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections, can survive on surfaces and typically thrive in places that are warm and moist. According to Dr. Rachel Gorwitz of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, although 25 to 30 percent of people have staph in their noses, this does not usually develop into infections. People can transmit staph infections to each other via skin-to-skin contact or touching the same object. Symptoms and signs include red bumps that are small and look like spider bites or tender red boils or pimples under or on the skin.
Gym Risk
Staph infections can hide at your gym on towels, exercise equipment and mats. For example, a person with a staph infection who comes in contact with a towel or exercise equipment can pass it on to another person at the gym who comes in contact with the same towel or exercise equipment. It is difficult to track a staph infection at a gym, partly because of its lengthy incubation period.
Prevention
According to The New York Times, health experts say that preventing staph infections like MRSA is straightforward. To do so at your gym, follow some precautionary steps. Always use clean towels, and wash towels you use at the gym in very hot water. Wash your hands often and thoroughly with soap and warm water, especially after touching equipment and other materials that other gym members have contacted. If you are unsure about the cleanliness of a piece of equipment, drape a towel over it so that your hands can touch the towel rather than the equipment directly. Bring your own exercise mat instead of using shared mats at the gym. Protect your feet by wearing flip-flops or sandals in the shower at the gym. If you have any open sores or infections, keep them covered or don't visit the gym until you heal to protect other gym members.
Considerations
Ask your gym's staff members about their sanitation procedures, such as how often and thoroughly they wipe down equipment and mats. If their procedures are not satisfactory to you, ask them to consider making some changes, and explain your concerns about staph infections and other health risks. If you are still not comfortable with your gym's cleanliness or willingness to adopt staph-preventing policies, switch to a different gym.
