Link: Drug-Resistant Staph Infection Spreads to Gyms, Day Care.
Experts say the emergence of new MRSA strains shows the problem associated with antibiotics use.
"Due to the heavy use of antibiotics in Western medicine, these [staph] organisms have had the opportunity to develop mechanisms for resistance," Zimmerman said. "Unfortunately these organisms continue to exhaust our resources for combating these types of infections, making treatment options for clinicians very limited.
"Because this infection is so common, the focus has shifted to prevention and control versus eradication," she added.
MRSA is spread in two ways: by physical contact with an infected person or by touching inanimate objects like towels, linens, razors, or weightlifting equipment contaminated with bacteria.
It’s not a disease that primarily affects athletes. But sports involving close contact, such as American football or wrestling, put athletes at higher risk for this infection.
Settings with close contact and lack of proper hygiene behaviors are particularly at risk, and prisons and day care centers may be highly vulnerable.
