Are gymnasium equipment surfaces a source of staphylococcal infections in the community?

Kathleen A Ryan; Cristos Ifantides; Christopher Bucciarelli; Heidi Saliba; Sanjeev Tuli; Erik Black; Lindsay A Thompson

doi:10.1016/j.ajic.2010.06.006

Are gymnasium equipment surfaces a source of staphylococcal infections in the community?

Am J Infect Control. 2011 Mar;39(2):148-50. doi: 10.1016/j.ajic.2010.06.006.

Authors

Kathleen A Ryan¹, Cristos Ifantides, Christopher Bucciarelli, Heidi Saliba, Sanjeev Tuli, Erik Black, Lindsay A Thompson

Affiliation

¹ Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, University of Florida, 1701 SW 16th Ave., Gainesville, FL 32608, USA. ryanka@peds.ufl.edu

PMID: 21356432
DOI: 10.1016/j.ajic.2010.06.006

Abstract

To determine the staphylococcal colonization of gymnasium surfaces, we obtained cultures of 5 gym surfaces, before and after routine cleaning in 3 local gyms, 3 separate times. Of 240 cultures, none was positive for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) or methicillin-sensitive S aureus (MSSA). Gym surfaces do not appear to be reservoirs for staphylococci; therefore, surface-to-skin contact in gymnasiums does not likely play a significant role in community transmission of MRSA or MSSA.

MeSH terms

Community-Acquired Infections / etiology*
Equipment Contamination*
Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / isolation & purification*
Sports Equipment*
Staphylococcal Skin Infections / etiology*