Media reports regarding the superbug in UK health clubs and gyms are inaccurate and unfounded, the Fitness Industry Association (FIA) has claimed.

The organisation’s announcement followed comments in the London Evening Standard and particularly in the Daily Telegraph, which reported that 100 cases of Community-Acquired MRSA (CA-MRSA) have been identified in Britain.

This is a new variety of the superbug which infects people with no connection to a hospital.

CA-MRSA causes skin infections which show up as boils, abscesses and inflammation. It can also cause joint infections and bacteria in the blood and in rare cases lead to a lethal form of pneumonia.

CA-MRSA is apparently found in communal changing areas such as those in sports centres and health clubs. In a few cases the infections have been passed between members of the same family. Infection is usually by skin to skin contact and occurs when the skin has been grazed.

Dr Angela Kearns, head of the Staphylococcus reference laboratory at the Health Protection Agency in north London, said the public should remain vigilant.

The Health Protection Agency has confirmed that there have been no cases of CA-MRSA in health clubs or gyms out of the 100 cases reported nationwide.

“The fitness industry takes this issue very seriously,” said Andree Deane, communications director of the FIA. “However there have never been any reported cases of CA-MRSA in gyms and people should not be put off going for their work-out.”

“FIA member gyms follow a Code of Practice with covers health and safety, staff training and customer care. The FIA is confident that its members take all necessary hygiene precautions to prevent the possibility of a CA-MRSA outbreak.”