MRSA Notes

There are a few disturbing issues with this article - what do you think?  But I applaud them for recognizing the importance of preventing MRSA, that is for sure.

Health clubs acutely aware of risks of transmitting illness

If the locker rooms of sports teams are potential sites for a drug-resistant staph bacterium, then it should come as no surprise that health clubs also are taking precautions against the bug.

“Every good club is very aware of it, and we’ve certainly encouraged club consumers to be aware of it, too,’’ said Brooke Correia, a spokeswoman for the Boston-based International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Association. “Good clubs are going to have strong cleanliness policies.’’

Last year, the organization sent out a list of tips to its clubs — not necessarily to combat community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), but to prevent transmission of any germs, including those for the common cold and flu.

Among the recommendations were cleaning equipment with spray bottles of disinfecting solutions, posting signs to remind members to wipe down machines after they use them and washing towels with bleach at the highest temperature possible.

Judy Hayner, a spokeswoman for YMCA of Santa Clara Valley, said she is unaware of any MRSA cases ever occurring at the group’s six branches. The YMCA makes anti-bacterial wipes available for members and disinfects locker rooms every night. Members must wear shirts and cannot work out with open wounds.

“It’s always a concern,’’ said John Acosta, a member at Club One at Santana Row. “It’s one of the reasons you choose a club. You don’t want to go to one that’s deteriorating.’’

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