title: Are gymnasium equipment surfaces a source of staphylococcal infections in the community?
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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, University of Florida, 1701 SW 16th Ave., Gainesville, FL 32608, USA. ryanka@peds.ufl.edu
authors.forename: Kathleen A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Ryan
authors.forename: Cristos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ifantides
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bucciarelli
authors.forename: Heidi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Saliba
authors.forename: Sanjeev
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tuli
authors.forename: Erik
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Black
authors.forename: Lindsay A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Thompson
mesh_terms: D017714:Community-Acquired Infections / Q000209:etiology*; D004866:Equipment Contamination; D055624:Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D019876:Sports Equipment; D013207:Staphylococcal Skin Infections / Q000209:etiology*