title: Are gym surfaces reservoirs for Staphylococcus aureus? A point prevalence survey.
abstract: We sought to identify staphylococcal contamination of gymnasium surfaces. Various environmental surfaces were cultured at a university fitness center. Ten out of 99 samples yielded Staphylococcus aureus, all of which were methicillin-susceptible. Gym surfaces may be colonized with staphylococci and could play a role in community transmission of staphylococcal species.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology, Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center, Richmond, VA, USA. john.d.markley@vanderbilt.edu
authors.forename: John Daniel
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Markley
authors.forename: Michael B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Edmond
authors.forename: Yvette
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Major
authors.forename: Gonzalo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bearman
authors.forename: Michael P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Stevens
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D017714:Community-Acquired Infections / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000635:transmission; D004783:Environmental Microbiology; D004866:Equipment Contamination; D020446:Fitness Centers; D006801:Humans; D008712:Methicillin / Q000494:pharmacology; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000635:transmission; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D014495:Universities
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D008712:Methicillin