DOCTOR ON CALL:IS IT TRUE that you can pick up a superbug infection in school gyms? I saw on the internet that there has been an outbreak of MRSA in schools in the US?

YOU ARE right: late last year, a New York high school student died from community-acquired MRSA infection, while there were several non-fatal outbreaks of infection with the drug resistant bacteria.

We associate MRSA problems with hospitals; some 85 per cent of serious infections occur in a healthcare environment. But the superbug exists in the community also and schools, gyms and other places where people come in close contact account for the other 15 per cent of cases.

According to medical experts, the infection can be spread by sharing towels, razors and even pieces of sports equipment. And the staph. aureus bug grows rapidly in warm, moist environments which helps explain the recent focus on health clubs and gyms.

Staph. aureus is primarily a minor skin infection. But it can develop into a pus-filled abscess and the infection becomes serious when it enters the bloodstream. The bacteria quickly develops resistance to an antibiotic called methicillin, a feature that led to the name methicillin resistant staph. aureus or MRSA. About a quarter of the population carry staph. aureus in the nose without ever getting an infection.

The risk of contracting MRSA in a school gym is low. Do not share combs, razors, towels or make-up with your friends. If you have a cut or graze, then cover it up while exercising or playing sport. Clean any cuts regularly and most important of all, wash your hands frequently.

When using exercise machines or other gym equipment, it is a good idea to put a towel over the bars. Don't use the same towel to dry yourself after a shower. And it is good hygiene to wear flip-flops while showering.

The broad problem of antibiotic resistant superbugs can be traced to the overuse of antibiotics in both humans and animals. Some bacteria are adept at changing their structure in response to repeated exposure to antibiotics, which should really be kept for serious infection and never used to treat viral illness.

There is no need for schools to deep-clean gyms or close them down if a case of MRSA is found. It is sufficient to clean the surfaces that come in contact with peoples' skin. And the tiny risk of infection is certainly not a reason to stop participating in school sports or physical education classes.

Dr Muiris Houston is Medical Correspondent of The Irish Times. Queries to sportsdoctor@irish-times.ie