Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
An outbreak of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus skin infections resulting from horse to human transmission in a veterinary hospital.
- Journal:
- Veterinary microbiology
- Year:
- 2006
- Authors:
- Weese, J S et al.
- Affiliation:
- Department of Clinical Studies · Canada
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
There have been increasing cases of a type of bacteria called methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) that can cause skin infections in both horses and humans. This study looked into skin infections in staff at a veterinary hospital who had worked with a foal that was carrying MRSA. Samples were taken from these staff members, and it was found that three of them had MRSA skin infections, while another ten out of one hundred and three tested positive for the bacteria in their noses. The findings suggest that MRSA can spread from horses to humans, even when proper protective measures are used, indicating a need for more research on how to prevent these types of infections. Overall, the treatment and prevention strategies for MRSA in this context need further development.
Abstract
There are increasing reports of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection and colonization in horses and evidence that MRSA can be transmitted between horses and humans. The objective of this study was to investigate reports of skin infection in personnel working with a foal with community-associated MRSA colonization and subsequent infection. Clinical diagnostic specimens were collected from individuals reporting skin lesions following contact with the affected foal. Nasal and groin screening swabs were collected from other veterinary personnel that attended a voluntary screening clinic. MRSA skin infections were identified in three neonatal intensive care unit personnel. Nasal colonization was subsequently identified in 10/103 (9.7%) other veterinary hospital personnel. Isolates were indistinguishable by pulsed field gel electrophoresis, classified as Canadian epidemic MRSA-5, possessed SCCmecIV, were negative for the Panton-Valentine leukocidin and were multidrug resistant. Transmission to veterinary personnel despite short-term contact with standard protective barriers highlights the potential importance of MRSA as an emerging zoonotic pathogen, and indicates that further evaluation of interspecies transmission of MRSA and means to prevent zoonotic infection are required.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16384660/