4. Staphylococcus Aureus
Its street name is staph, and it's a bacteria that lives on the skin and in the nose.
"It can transfer to gym equipment if you wipe your nose or have it on your skin," says Shainhouse. "If the next person to use the equipment has a break in their skin, the staph bacteria can get in and cause a bumpy rash, boil, or full-on skin swelling and fevers."
Staph infections are usually mild, the exception being MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus), a more aggressive staph strain that's resistant to antibiotics. But don't fret: There are still certain antibiotics it will respond to, so make sure to check in with your doc for a prescription if a staph infection strikes.
5. HPV
"Human papilloma virus is a family of viruses that can cause plantar warts [one shown above]," says Randy Wexler, M.D., associate professor of family medicine at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. "It can be spread by skin-to-skin contact or from walking around barefoot in bathrooms and showers."
Make sure to wear flip flops when walking around these areas—and if plantar warts do crop up, check in with your doc to have them removed.
More From Women's Health: HPV Vaccine Effectiveness
6. Streptococcal Bacteria
"Strep bacteria are extremely contagious and can be spread through skin contact, airborne droplets, and surfaces like exercise equipment," says Joel Schlessinger, M.D., board-certified dermatologist and president of LovelySkin. "Aside from causing strep throat, these bacteria can also lead to skin infections and blisters."
While minor strep infections usually get better on their own, skin infections and more serious infections (like pneumonia) need to be treated with a round of antibiotics.
7. E. coli and Hepatitis A
"These are a bacteria and virus, respectively, that are transmitted by fecal-oral routes," says Shainhouse.
Translation: You can get sick by ingesting poop bacteria.
If someone doesn't wash their hands after using the bathroom or doesn't wipe very well, these germs set up shop on the equipment and can spread when an unsuspecting person touches their mouth during their sweat sesh. Both E. coli and hepatitis A cause mild to severe symptoms—cramps, diarrhea, vomiting.
When it comes to E. coli, it's usually a case of waiting for the agonizing symptoms to pass (but should they escalate, head to the hospital, stat). If you suspect you've been exposed to hepatitis A, getting a hep-A vaccine within two weeks may protect you from a full-on infection, according to the Mayo Clinic—and if you start experiencing symptoms, check in with your doc for an action plan.
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