Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
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).
- Journal:
- Veterinary dermatology
- Year:
- 2006
- Authors:
- Morris, Daniel O et al.
- Affiliation:
- Department of Clinical Studies - Philadelphia · United States
Plain-English summary
Researchers looked at samples from dogs and cats to see how often certain types of staph bacteria were resistant to antibiotics. They found that about 35% of Staphylococcus aureus, 17% of Staphylococcus intermedius, and 40% of Staphylococcus schleiferi were resistant to methicillin, an important antibiotic. While both dogs and cats had similar rates of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), the other two resistant types were more common in dogs. The resistant strains were often linked to skin and ear infections, especially in dogs, and MRSA was more likely to cause deeper infections. The study suggests that veterinarians should test for these resistant strains early on to ensure effective treatment and protect both animal and public health.
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: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16961819/