Get up, Come On, Get Down With the Sickness

The Skinny on Staph

The other day, I was about to meet my friend at the gym for a little BJJ action, when she canceled due to a staph infection.  

I didn't know what the heck she was talking about, and thought it was the most creative, LA flake excuse I'd heard yet.

Unfortunately, my friend wasn't flaking, and what she first thought was an innocent, adult acne breakout, turned out to something more painful and irritating, which (understandably) ticked her off. 

 She told me that someone probably didn't remove his shoes on the mats, ("those dirty boys with their dirty shoes!") or came to class with the contagious infection, thinking that covering it with a bandage wouldn't hurt anyone, instead of staying home.

Luckily, my friend contracted a strain of staph that was easily treated with antibiotics, and passed along helpful information, instead of passing along the bacteria to her classmates.  She informed the higher ups at her martial arts school, which compelled them to thoroughly scrub down all equipment and mats, and re-evaluate their hygienic practices.

Phew!  Guess I'm not the paranoid hypochondriac I thought I was, since I always grab the mat from the bottom of the pile at my gym.  (There are classes back-to-back, and no one cleans those puppies in between.  I don't want to lie on someone else's sweat.  Raise your hand if ewww!)

Are you at risk of getting staph?

Depending on your sport, you may be walking around with cuts and abrasions from your most recent mountain biking accident, or poison oak from canyoneering, which is a wide-open invitation for infection.  Hey, but don't let a fear of deadly microbes be an excuse to not to exercise, and sit on the couch and eat a pint of Haagen-Dazs instead.  

Believe me, I know how tempting that is.  After watching the horrifying Oprah episode with the woman that lost her half her upper body to a flesh-eating streptococcus, after cutting her finger slicing celery, I considered becoming one of those scary survivalists that shun all mankind and go to bed wearing a gas mask every night.

Man, those little microbes are terrifying if you focus on the worst case scenario.  However, the truth is, it's common for Staphylococcus Aureus to harmlessly hang out in your nose, or on your skin.  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that "approximately 30% of people have staph in their noses, and do not have any symptoms".  Sometimes, it enters through surface cuts and abrasions, or mucus membranes, causing infections, like MRSA.

MRSA or Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus sounds scary with that "cillin resistant" part in the name.  Common antibiotics such as penicillin, amoxicillin and methicillin don't kill it, and MRSA may spread to the internal organs or systems, cause pneumonia or even death.  However, "almost all MRSA skin infections can be effectively treated in the outpatient setting by drainage of the pus by a healthcare provide, with or without antibiotics", cites the CDC.   Although it's rare for healthy people to contract it from a community setting such as a fitness club, it can and does happen.  Mmmm, ice cream and TV...   Just kidding!

Now I'm completely paranoid.  How can I protect myself from staph infections in the gym and beyond?

I think of that woman that got sick after chopping celery, and how it seems as if she did everything right.  She washed the wound with alcohol, and covered it with a bandage.  Maybe if she would have applied a first aid antiseptic, she would have been OK?

• There's a fabulous product by the makers of Technu called StaphASeptic.  It's an antiseptic and pain relieving gel that kills 99.9% of antibiotic resistant staph such as MRSA.  Stuff a packet in your gym bag, purse, and 1st Aid Kit.  It's easy to stash in your backpack along with your 10 essentials before a hike, and I'll be bringing it next time I go mountain biking.  This is replacing Neosporin in my medicine cabinet.  
  
• Just like everything else, proper handwashing is always recommended to avoid illness.  In another fantastic book by the Mountaineers, "Don't Get Sick", is a section that accurately describes the proper way to wash hands in an eight-step process:

1. Wet hands with hot, flowing water (100-120F)
   
2. Soap up until a good lather is attained. (Do not use anti-bacterial soap!)
3. Work the lather all over the surface of the hand, concentrating on fingernails and tips. Perform 30 seconds to 1 minute of active scrubbing.
4. Clean under fingernails.
5. Rinse thoroughly with hot water (very important!)
6. Resoap and relather.
7. Rerinse.
8. Dry hands (very important!)

I know that seems OCD, but you'll be practically ready to perform surgery after that 8 step process.   

The book also emphasizes the importance of moisturizers for your hands to have proper hand-health, and minimize chapped or cracked skin.  Proper hand hygiene is a must while hiking in the back country.

It's a good idea to wash hands before and after using weight equipment. 

• Alcohol-based sanitizers with at least 60% alcohol content, with added moisturizers should be used if running water isn't available to wash hands.
• When you go to the gym, bring your own mat, or use a clean towel as a barrier between your skin and the mat.
• Use a towel on weight benches and other exercise equipment.  Wiping down after you've finished is a common courtesy I wish more people followed.
• Avoid jacuzzis and hot tubs when you have open abrasions or poison oak.
  
• Don't share towels, and wash your towel and gym clothes before re-using.  Don't share bar soap, use liquid.
  
• Shower as soon as possible after your workout, and wear flip-flops if it's at the gym.
• Talk to the manager at your fitness club.  Ask how often they clean the mats in the grappling room, and the communal equipment.  The Environmental Protection Agency offers a downloadable PDF with recommendations for gyms to clean mats, equipment, and restrooms to avoid staph and other nasty microbes. 

How do I know if I have a staph infection or MRSA?

Most people complain of a painful spider bite, or a pimple.  The CDC has some lovely pictures of MRSA for reference.  If you have a questionable skin condition that worsens, or is accompanied by a fever, seek medical attention.

For more info about MRSA among Athletes, visit the CDC FAQs.

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My buddies at Tech Laboratories, Inc. are offering a special discount of $3 off of StaphAseptic by entering the promo code ADVPAM through May 15th.  Click here to purchase. 

Deadly bacteria don't have to be scary when there's cuddly plush versions for sale!  Check out Giant Microbes, and buy an adorable Staph toy (pictured above).  They're perfect for health educators and elementary school teachers.