It was only a few years ago that MRSA - Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus - was a major threat in UK hospitals.

BBC: Action on antibiotics

The bugs in question run the gamut from fungi, which cause ailments such as athlete's foot, to viruses that cause herpes or a potentially deadly infection known as MRSA, or methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus.

CNN: Germ warfare moves to the gym

Experts say Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA, a form of staph resistant to common antibiotics, has become a more prevalent problem in settings such as contact sports that involve skin-to-skin touching.

CNN: NFL stars no match for bacteria

Personal touchscreen devices aren't as bad as the self-checkout screens in grocery stores, but he knows of rare cases where people contracted a serious skin disease called Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA, from sharing a cell phone with bacteria on it.

WSJ: Greasy Smudges Frustrate iPad Owners

He also advises asking for proof of a tuberculosis screening within the past year, as well as a recent test for community-associated Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA), which can be transmitted by skin-to-skin contact and cause painful skin infections and boils.

FORBES: How To Hire (And When To Fire) A Caregiver