Preventing Staph Infections in Dance Studios
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Preventing Staph Infection in the Studio
By Joy Held
Preventing staph infection in the studio is not that difficult. Particular hygiene habits and cleaning products will keep the bacteria under control in most situations. The difficult part is getting the studio clientele on board with your plan. The media has already done a good job at alerting the public. The recent episodes of deaths associated with MRSA (Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus) in schools and other settings have brought the topic to the forefront of people’s minds. You needn’t be afraid, just cautious, and your studio families need to be aware of the procedures to help avoid the spread of any staph infection.
Commonly misdiagnosed as a spider bite, MRSA appears as a skin rash or infection that is red, swollen, painful or has drainage associated with it. It is spread through skin-to-skin contact (partnering work in dance) and through contact with contaminated clothing (costumes) or towels (used by dancers during and after class to wipe off sweat.)
MOST COMMON AREAS
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention lists the “Five C’s” as the most common areas where the infection can be spread in community settings such as schools and fitness centers. The notes in parenthesis show how the dance studio is a prime candidate for staph outbreaks.
1. Crowding (backstage during shows) 2. Contact, frequent skin-to-skin (partnering work in dance) 3. Compromised skin, cuts/abrasions (blisters from pointe work) 4. Contaminated items and surfaces (ballet barres and towels) 5. Cleanliness, lack of proper cleaning (not using products designed to kill staph)
Many of your students are contracting staph in their schools and bringing it to the studio. You can prevent the spread of staph in the studio by using products designed to kill the bacteria and by maintaining good hygiene habits everywhere.
PREVENTION TIPS
To prevent staph bacteria from becoming a menace in the studio, follow these habits and provide products for your clients that will keep them safe too.
1. Clean the studio weekly with bleach-based products or other specially designed cleaning supplies. (See product suggestions below.) Remember to wipe down ballet barres, door knobs, remote controls and telephones. 2. Provide an alcohol-based waterless hand sanitizer in every room of the building. It is a small price to pay for reducing the spread of a potentially deadly virus.3. Provide plenty of paper towels or air blowers for drying hands after washing.4. Post signs that list good hygiene habits for your students.5. Tell dancers to cover any open wound such as blisters and to clean them daily.6. Have dancers working with partners use hand sanitizer before and after practice. Also encourage them to wash hands with warm water and soap often.7. Remind dancers to bathe often and to have any questionable skin breakouts anywhere on their bodies checked out by a doctor. 8. Pay to have a professional cleaning company clean the studio at least every three months.9. Wipe down the ballet barres before and after every class.10. Remind students not to share dance shoes, leotards, tights, towels or warm-ups.
You don’t have to become a full-time cleaning person to prevent problems with staph. Involve students by having them wipe down the barres and help younger students with washing hands.
HELPFUL PRODUCTS
There are many products approved by the Environmental Protection Agency that reduce staph and are not harmful to the environment. Most are available to hospitals where the problem is large scale. You can find the following products at most grocery stores. Bleach is good but pure bleach can harm many surfaces and leave a film.
- 1. Clorox surface spray cleaner 2. OdoBan, Odor Eliminator and Disinfectant, Clean Control Corporation, www.odoban.com
Staph bacteria are common and to some degree present all the time. Bad habits and careless behaviors cause the dangerous and unpleasant spread that everybody pays for. Regular cleaning with the right products and reminding your students to wash their hands will prevent an outbreak in your studio.