Link: Southern Voice Online.
Both body shaving and the whirlpools found at bathhouses are suspected of helping fuel the spread of staph among gay men, Melton said. “It’s been known for some time that shaving could promote skin infection,” said Melton, who noted many doctors now clip, instead of shave, a patient before surgery. The towels and linens recycled among men at bathhouses and in locker rooms at gyms may also facilitate the spread of staph, Melton said. People with HIV may be more at risk for acquiring staph because of their “increased exposure to antibiotics and the healthcare setting,” according to the CDC. They may also be more susceptible to severe illness if infected with MRSA, Melton said. Gay men who use anabolic steroids for bodybuilding may also increase their chances of contracting staph if they develop acne or other skin infections, Melton said. Skin-to-skin contact is the most common mode of transmission for community-acquired MRSA, which usually appears in the form of a swollen, puss-filled skin boil
