When it comes to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus pseudintermedius (MRSP), resistance is increasing and it could signal new therapeutic challenges for veterinarians.
The infection rates in human hospitals have been well-documented for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), but new data is suggesting MRSP may emerge as a similar threat to dogs, but without the same zoonotic potential to people.
A study published in the Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy (Perreten V, et al.) in late March suggests that two major clonal MRSP lineages "have disseminated in Europe and North America. Regardless of their geographical or clonal origin, the isolates displayed resistance to the major classes of antibiotics used in veterinary medicine and thus infections caused by MRSP isolates represent a serious therapeutic challenge."
How serious? These isolates are showing resistance to many popular antibiotics including: trimethoprim (90.3 percent), gentamicin/kanamycin (88.3 percent), kanamycin (90.3 percent) streptomycin (90.3 percent), streptothrycin (90.3 percent), macrolides and/or lincosamides (89.3 percent), fluoroquinolones (87.4 percent), tetracycline (69.9 percent), chloramphenicol (57.3 percent) and rifampicin (1.9 percent).
Objectives: The occurrence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and the possible relatedness between human and animal isolates were investigated among veterinary staff and hospitalized animals in a referral small animal hospital in the UK.
Methods: A total of 300 swab samples were taken from nasal and oral mucosae of 78 veterinary staff, 45 dogs, 12 cats and from 30 environmental surfaces. Staphylococci were isolated by selective enrichment and characterized by biochemical tests and antimicrobial disc susceptibility testing. MRSA isolates were genotypically confirmed by PCR and typed by PFGE.
Results: MRSA was isolated from 14 staff (17.9%), four dogs (9%), and three environmental sites (10%) yielding a total of 28 MRSA isolates. PFGE analysis revealed that most MRSA isolates were indistinguish- able (56%) or closely related (26%) to EMRSA-15, one of the two epidemic MRSA strains dominant in UK hospitals. Like EMRSA-15, the predominant strain isolated from staff, dogs and environmental sites was resistant to fluoroquinolones in addition to all b-lactams.
Conclusions: The study provides evidence of EMRSA-15 mucosal carriage in veterinary staff and hospitalized dogs, with the risk of MRSA carriage in veterinary staff being significantly higher than reported for the UK healthy community. EMRSA-15 was predominant in the hospital environment, including humans, dogs, and inanimate objects, but the mode by which the strain was introduced and spread remains uncertain.
Prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus among staff and pets in a small animal referral hospital in the UK
Anette Loeffler1*, Amanda K. Boag1, Julia Sung2, Jodi A. Lindsay2, Luca Guardabassi3, Anders Dalsgaard3, Heather Smith1, Kim B. Stevens1 and David H. Lloyd1
1Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, University of London, London, UK; 2Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, St. George’s, University of London, London, UK; 3Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, The Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, Frederisksberg C, Denmark
Objectives Due to their multiple antibiotic resistance properties, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) are a major public health problem. After the recently described emergence of MRSA in animals, the authors investigated the risk of nasal MRSA carriage among people with professional contact with animals.
Methods Nasal swabs andi nformation on animal exposure and known MRSA risk factors were obtained from participants (N=702) at five conferences organized by national veterinary and farmer associations and students at a business school in Denmark. All of the participants were screened by standard microbiological techniques for MRSA detection and characterization.
Results MRSA carriage was significantly (P<0.02) higher among the veterinary practitioners (3.9%) than among the participants not professionally exposed to animals (0.7%). Six of the nine MRSA strains isolated from veterinary practitioners belonged to clonal complexes (CC) previously associated with horses (CC8), small animals (CC22), and pigs (CC398). Although four of the nine positive veterinarians carried the CC associated with pigs, exposure to small animals, cattle, or horses, but not to pigs, was found to be a significant risk factor.
Conclusions The results indicate that veterinarians are at risk of MRSA carriage. Veterinary professionals should be informed about this emerging occupational health risk and educated about preventive measures. Col- laboration between national medical and veterinary institutions is urgently needed to control the spread of these unwanted bacteria in the community.
Moodley A, Nightingale EC, Stegger M, Nielsen SS, Skov RL, Guardabassi L. High risk for nasal carriage of me- thicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus among Danish veterinary practitioners. Scand J Work Environ Health. 2008;34(2):151–157.
WARNINGS have been issued that the withdrawal of certain antimicrobials from veterinary use could result if vets don’t reduce their reliance on them. The growing problem of resistance to antimicrobials was highlighted during an MRSA clinicians’ day in London, hosted by the Bella Moss Foundation, which followed on from the second International Conference on MRSA in Animals.
Pets MRSA has been answering questions on MRSA in animals for over 5 years. Here are some of the most common questions and the answers we've discovered.
PKB Animal Health, Inc., makers of Zymox® Otic and Zymox® Topical Spray announce scientific research demonstrating effectiveness of the enzyme-based products against Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, MRSA.
Zymox® adds a much needed level of confidence in the ability to manage stubborn infections of the ears and skin of dogs and cats, including antibiotic resistant microorganisms such as MRSA. This discovery has timely benefits as there has been growing concern in the veterinary community regarding treatment and prevention of MRSA and the potential for pets to spread this bacteria to people.
According to published research, both Zymox® Otic for ear infections and Zymox® Topical Spray for skin infections, wounds and cuts have been shown to eradicate MRSA in as little as 30 seconds upon contact. Gentle on skin, yet effective on microbes, Zymox® utilizes the patented LP3 Enzyme System which is non-toxic and formulated without antibiotics, chlorhexidine, harsh detergents or chemicals. Zymox® requires no pre-cleaning and is applied only once a day.
There is a concern that the numbers of MRSA or other antimicrobial-resistant bacteria might increase further when human isolates become established in animals, as this can amplify the numbers of such bacteria by dissemination within animal groups with subsequent spread back to humans. Certain antimicrobials have been implicated in the selection of MRSA, ESBL-producing bacteria and predisposition to infection by C. difficile. Guidelines for treatment and prevention of infections by MRSA, ESBL-producing bacteria and C. difficile were discussed and evidence-based policies were recommended for both humans and animals.
This short but direct article encourages vets to remain vigilant as to the impact of MRSA on animals and draws attention to the work of the Bella Moss Foundation in this area.
ROBIN FEARON Veterinary Times features editor examines the efforts made by the Bella Moss Foundation and other charities in trying to combat the spread of this deadly infection.
The Bella Moss Foundation was once again supported by veterinary student volunteers on its stand at Discover Dogs.
This year, hand hygiene was the theme presented by The Foundation to those that visited the stand, and Peter Purves, Foundation Vice-Patron and Marc Abraham, resident vet on the Paul O’Grady Show and kennel club veterinary advisor were there to help get the message across.
Nick Mills will be loved and remembered by all those who knew him for the many special attributes he possessed. For me, personally: Nick was the kind of vet a pet owner would want to have, the kind of friend you are lucky to be blessed with. Nick took on the role to become one of our chief advisors to the Foundation in 2006. At that time we were viewed by some people in the veterinary profession with trepidation. Nick never lost sight of my dream to save animals with early detection of MRSA. I had lost my beloved dog Bella the previous year to MRSA (human strain) and Nick could see that MRSA was an emerging problem in animals. He encouraged me in the face of adversity. Nick played an important role in helping the Foundation grow as a new charity.
The Bella Moss Foundation would like to acknowledge our deep sadness at the loss of a very good friend. Mr, Nick Mills who was an excellent vet and special man in every way, the kind of vet anyone would want to have and the kind of man who was an inspiration to anyone who he came into contact with. Our condolences go to Nick’s family and colleagues at his practice and Pet Plan Charitable Trust. Nick fought so hard in our corner and we will miss him so very much.
BMF launches an Interactive educational website for veterinary nurses and other staff working in veterinary practise.
Veterinary Nurse Training Online www.veterinarynursetrainingonline.org Live Launch 10 – 12th October 2008
Location; BVNA Congress conference (Kettering)
Come see The Bella Moss Foundation and a demonstration of how to use the website on the College of Animal Welfare stand (127, 128, and 129) or visit the website address from October 10th 2008.
The Bella Moss Foundation will share a stand with the College of Animal Welfare where we will launch a live demonstration of an interactive website aimed at veterinary nurses and lay staff working in practice focusing on infection control.
If you are in need of urgent advice and support regarding your pets health please contact Jill Moss - 07860 879079 (From the USA 00 44 7860 879079). Otherwise email info@thebellamossfoundation.com and ask for our factsheets.
Bella Moss Foundation (www.pets-mrsa.com) do not comment on clinical management of cases or drug therapy, but we can put your vet or doctor in touch with our health experts for intervention in cases where necessary. Please note all comments or questions posted to the website are replied to personally and not here on the site.
