Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Evaluation of prevalence and risk factors for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus colonization in veterinary personnel attending an international equine veterinary conference.
- Journal:
- Veterinary microbiology
- Year:
- 2008
- Authors:
- Anderson, Maureen E C et al.
- Affiliation:
- Department of Clinical Studies · Canada
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
A recent study looked at how common it is for veterinary staff at a horse conference to carry a type of bacteria called methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), which can be resistant to certain antibiotics. Out of 257 participants, about 10% were found to be carrying MRSA. The study found that people who had treated animals or patients with MRSA in the past year were more likely to carry the bacteria, while those who practiced good hand hygiene, like washing their hands between patients or farms, were less likely to be colonized. This research highlights that veterinary staff working with horses may be at a higher risk for MRSA compared to the general population, and it emphasizes the importance of handwashing in preventing the spread of this bacteria.
Abstract
Infection and colonization with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) are now increasingly being reported in animals and people who work with animals, including horses and horse personnel. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the prevalence of MRSA colonization in veterinary personnel attending an international equine veterinary conference, and to identify risk factors for MRSA colonization in this group. Volunteers were recruited at the conference to provide a single nasal swab and complete a questionnaire regarding contact with the human health care system, contact with horses, and personal hand hygiene. Colonization with MRSA was found in 26/257 (10.1%) of study participants. Multivariable analysis showed an increased risk of MRSA colonization associated with having been diagnosed with or having treated a patient diagnosed with MRSA colonization or infection in the last year (odds ratio [OR] 8.41, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.51-49.92, P=0.015; OR 3.27, 95% CI 1.05-10.11, P=0.039, respectively), whereas hand washing between infectious cases (OR 0.27, 95% CI 0.11-0.72, P=0.009) and hand washing between farms (OR 0.35, 95% CI 0.14-0.98, P=0.047) were protective. The prevalence of MRSA colonization among equine veterinary personnel found in this study was high compared to that of other studies of the general population. These data support previous suggestions that equine veterinary personnel are at increased risk of colonization with MRSA. This is the first study to demonstrate a statistically significant association between hand hygiene practices and a measurable clinical outcome in veterinary medicine.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18187274/