Research presented at ASM Microbe Online found that 43 percent of Staphylococcus bacteria discovered on exercise equipment in university gyms were ampicillin-resistant, with 73% of these isolates being resistant to multiple other medications.

As stated by this U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, roughly 120,000 S. aureus bacteremia cases led to 20,000 deaths in 2017. Skin abrasions are a frequent route of entry of pathogenic S. aureus strains. As emphasized by the continuing COVID-19 pandemic, there is growing public concern about temperate areas as a bastion of infectious microorganisms.

<span style="color: #ff6600;"><a style="color: #ff6600;" href="https://asm.org/Press-Releases/2020/July/High-Levels-of-Antibiotic-resistant-Bacteria-Found">Results of the analysis found 43% of 462 S. aureus isolates recovered from 45 different exercise equipment surfaces were ampicillin resistant. Of 60 representative ampicillin-resistant isolates, 73 percent were resistant to two or more additional drugs such as erythromycin and sulfisoxazole.</a></span>

<em>These results suggest regularly contacted surfaces in different recreational environments can harbor multi-drug resistant S. aureus (MDRSA) and should be disinfected frequently to best maintain public health and community wellbeing."</em>

<span style="color: #ff6600;"><a style="color: #ff6600;" href="https://asm.org/Press-Releases/2020/July/High-Levels-of-Antibiotic-resistant-Bacteria-Found">Chase A. Weikel, a 2018 graduate of West Chester University and current graduate student at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia</a></span>

Samples were collected from two university recreational centers. The surfaces fitness center patrons frequently touched, such as barbell and dumbbells grips and cable pull grips, kettlebells, elliptical and treadmill handles were swabbed and plated on Mannitol Salt Agar (MSA). This selective and differential media was utilized to isolate and presumptively identify S. aureus. Isolates were replicated to MSA plus ampicillin. Isolates additionally resistant to oxacillin or penicillin were then screened using CHROMagar&#x2122; MRSA; a sensitive and specific press used to screen for methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA). Isolates that tested positive using CHROMagar&#x2122; were exposed to additional confirmatory methods including latex agglutination assay. Microscopy was used to validate Gram-positive status and cellular morphology and arrangement.
This study has been presented as an ePoster at the ASM Microbe seminar which is proceeding in an on-line format at August 2020. ASM Microbe Online brings you the lively, cutting-edge science of ASM Microbe 2020, the yearly meeting of the American Society for Microbiology. Explore the most recent study in the microbial sciences with ePosters, hear from experts in the field during live keynotes and get track-related content with a curated choice of on-demand sessions.
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<span style="color: #ff6600;"><a style="color: #ff6600;" href="https://asm.org/Press-Releases/2020/July/High-Levels-of-Antibiotic-resistant-Bacteria-Found" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">American Society for Microbiology</a></span>

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