"Even though there have been no specific MRSA outbreaks linked to gyms, it makes sense--not just with this organism but with all infections--for people to have good hygiene," says Eli Perencevich, M.D., a professor of epidemiology and preventive medicine at the University of Maryland. Follow these tips and the only thing you'll pick up at your next workout will be a barbell.
Check your gym bag.
It should contain all your post-workout needs so you aren't forced to bum anything off a buddy. "There have been staph outbreaks in locker rooms, where people share towels and razors--all that might facilitate entry of the bacteria into a break in the skin," says Suzanne Bradley, M.D., an infectious- disease specialist at the University of Michigan.
Bug out and bandage.
"If our players get a wound, we encourage them to come directly to us to get it cleaned," says Steve Antonopolus, ATC, head of the NFL's Trainers' Association. An open wound is the main entryway for MRSA, so clean cuts with Johnson & Johnson's Hurt Free Antiseptic Wash; it can kill 50 percent more germs than hydrogen peroxide can. Seal the deal with a waterproof bandage.
Hit the showers.
No matter how little you sweat or how great you smell, don't leave dirty. "Take a shower immediately following a workout," says Sophia Kazakova, M.D., Ph.D., an epidemiologist for the CDC. "Preventing these infections comes down to basic cleanliness." And for extra insurance (at least from athlete's foot), wear sandals into the stall.
Make it a clean lift.
Most gyms keep bottles of antiseptic on hand to spray down the equipment. Use them. "We know that in hospital settings, things like the trays or stethoscopes or thermometers can have MRSA, so it may be possible to spread it through gym machines, too," says Dr. Perencevich. If your gym doesn't provide spray, invest in a bottle of alcohol-based sanitizer like Purell and use it on your hands between machines, he says.