Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Are your pets at risk for antibiotic-resistant staph infections?
By Morris, Daniel O et al.·Published in Veterinary dermatology·2006·Department of Clinical Studies - Philadelphia, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Screening of Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus intermedius, and Staphylococcus schleiferi isolates obtained from small companion animals for antimicrobial resistance: a retrospective review of 749 isolates (2003-04).
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A review of 749 samples from dogs and cats found that certain types of staph bacteria, like Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus intermedius, can be resistant to common antibiotics. About 35% of Staphylococcus aureus cases were methicillin-resistant (MRSA), which is often linked to serious infections, while 40% of Staphylococcus schleiferi cases were also resistant, usually causing skin and ear infections. The study suggests that veterinarians should perform tests to identify these resistant strains early on to choose the best treatment and protect both pets and people from potential health risks.
People also search for: dog skin infection treatment · cat ear infection antibiotics · MRSA in pets · antibiotic resistance in dogs · staph infection in cats
Abstract
Companion animal staphylococcal isolate antibiograms were screened retrospectively to determine the frequency of methicillin-resistant (MR) infection by Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus intermedius, and Staphylococcus schleiferi. Rates of MR were: S. aureus 35%, S. intermedius 17%, and S. schleiferi 40%. Frequency of isolation of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) from dogs and cats was similar, whereas methicillin-resistant S. intermedius (MRSI) and methicillin-resistant S. schleiferi (MRSS) were significantly more common in dogs. MRSS was more commonly associated with superficial (skin and ear canal) infections, whereas MRSA was more commonly associated with deep infections. The MR strain resistance pattern to other classes of antibiotics was also investigated. MRSA was resistant to the most classes of antibiotics, followed by MRSI, while MRSS maintained the most favourable susceptibility profile. MR staphylococci may pose a significant risk to animal and public health. Therefore, to avoid selecting for resistant strains in cases of suspected staphylococcal infection, clinicians should consider culture and susceptibility testing early in the course of treatment.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16961819/