Germs and Infections You Could Catch at the Gym

With sweaty members swapping machines and equipment, gyms can be a breeding ground for fungi, bacteria, and viruses. In one study, researchers found , on everything from toilet handles to leg presses to elliptical trainers. But don’t let thoughts of gross gym germs stop you from going. “It’s important to exercise,” says Nirav Patel, MD, assistant professor of infectious diseases at Saint Louis University. “[Infections are] something you want to keep in the back of your mind.”