TMBRA - Rider Board

[Anonymous]

Can I get a skin staph infection/inflamation from the plastic of my HR monitor? From my helmet? Can staph live in my bike shorts, shoes, eyewear, etc? Any recommendations on how to treat these annoying skin inflamations without going to the doctor?

[The Bike Doc]

Sam:

Let me answer your questions one at a time.

#1 Yes
#2 Yes
#3 Yes
#4 Yes
#5 Yes
#6 Yes
#7 Yes, but...

Staph bacteria live on the skin normally. If something causes irritation and inflamation then the Staph can overgrow and an infection develops. Things that can irritate your skin such as sensitivity to certain chemicles whether man or nature made can set the stage for an infection. If you have a sensitivity to latex, a natural occurring substance harvested from the rubber tree, then any items contacting your skin that contain latex such as plastic and elastic waist bands can trigger a rash that can then become infected. It is likely you are washing your bike clothes and heart rate monitor straps and transponder after each use to help decrease overgrowth of bacteria on these items; do keep this up. Make sure to double rinse the items in clean water to get rid of any soap residue. Allowing them to dry in open sun light will help the ultraviolet rays destroy bacteria. Some individuals have low immunoglobulin levels that make them more prone to staph infections.

It would be best to seek a medical evaluation to see if there is something that is setting you up for recurrent skin infections.

Thanks,
_________________
Paul K. Nolan, MD
AKA: The Bike Doc