It’s no surprise that gyms are riddled with germs and bacteria that can make a person ill — sometimes the illnesses can be quite dangerous and even life-threatening. One type of bacterium that can be especially dangerous is known as Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), which is also sometimes referred to as oxacillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (ORSA).
Throughout the next few sections, we’re going to tell you what MRSA is exactly, why it’s so dangerous, what preventative measures gym patrons can take, and the importance of commercial cleaning gym equipment if you’re a gym owner or even workout at home.

What Is MRSA?

MRSA is a type of bacterium that can be potentially life-threatening. This is not just because of the symptoms, but also because of the fact that MRSA is resistant to many commonly used antibiotics.
MRSA was first discovered in the year of 1961 and has continued to develop ever since then. Over the years it has developed a resistant to many common antibiotics including penicillin, amoxicillin, and oxacillin.
The bacterium is spread through contact, so it’s easy to imagine how a gym patron (who is often surrounded by other people’s sweat) could become infected.

Preventative Measures for Gym Patrons

Even though MRSA is resistant to many forms of antibiotics, that doesn’t mean that it can’t be prevented in one way or another. Unless you have your own workout area or garage gym, you probably won’t be able to reserve gym equipment so that nobody else can use it, but you can take preventative measures to minimize your chance of infection.

Always ensure that your hygiene is a top priority. It would be a good idea to keep personal toiletries and a small towel in your gym bag, flip flops would also be ideal if you intend to use the showers.

If you’re gripping a barbell, a cable handle, or even a machine handle, chances are that many other people have done before you. It’s easy to come into contact with bacteria through your hands when you’re in a gym, so make sure that you wash your hands frequently throughout your workout.

Cleaning Gym Equipment

MRSA is something that you need to be aware of if you own a gym, specific guidelines are set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to minimize the risk of infection. It’s safe to say that gym equipment is often shared by dozens of people every day, making it easy for the bacterium to spread.

If you do own a gym, make sure to take a look at these guidelines and adhere to them strictly; educate your gym patrons on the importance of gym hygiene.

There are many types of illnesses and diseases that can be spread through bodily contact; a drip of sweat or a speck of blood could be all that it takes to infect someone. It’s quite scary to imagine how often gym equipment is shared, and how much people who share this equipment are in danger.

Make sure to follow the advice and guidance given above to ensure that you minimize your risk of infection as much as possible.