Animals & MRSA

March Update

March Update

We have been informed that the article 'Whiter Than White' that appeared on the front page of the Vet Times on Feb 14 contained serious inaccuracies. In particular, the statement ‘In retrospect, it would have been interesting to know if this dog was indeed carrying MRSA in its nasopharynx and if the owners had previous hospital contact’  was wrongly attributed to the BSAVA as a comment on Bella. The comment actually first appeared in the Journal of Small Animal Practice and referred to a different case in which the animal recovered.

We unreservedly apologise to the BSAVA for repeating this inacurate attribution and have removed the original article, and our response, from this website. We shall also seek a correction in the soonest possible edition of the Vet Times.

It is the policy of PETS-MRSA.com to maintain the highest accuracy possible in what we report.

New Charity
I am in the process of registering a new animal welfare charity. Called The Bella Moss Foundation, it will work towards improving infection control in veterinary practices, support and publicise research into MRSA and other serious infections affecting companion animals, offer information to pet owners on post-operative infections, help pet owners in selecting a vet and, ultimately, develop a veterinary clinic caring for companion animals suffering from serious infections.

The Bella Moss Foundation will concentrate on fundraising, publications and the clinic, whilst PETS-MRSA.COM will focus on the issues of clinical standards and regulation of vets. I already have some serious sponsorship and press interest. One of the projects already under consideration is the sponsorship of a conference (to take place later this year) that will discuss and promote advances in the fight against MRSA and other serious infections, and we are in discussions with an events organisation company, so watch this space.

Response from Barnet Enviromental Services

Dear Mr Dismore (Local MP)

Medivet - Hendon Clinic

I refer to your letter dated 10th January 2005 on behalf of your constituent, Jill Moss. Officers have spoken to Ms Moss and are surprised to learn that she has been informed that the RCVS do not have power to act on such matters. I can confirm that this is not a matter that is covered by any trading standards legislation.

However, veterinary practices are covered by workplace health and safety law, enforced by the Health and Safety Executive. The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulation: includes requirements to control pathogenic organisms, such as MRSA, where there is a risk to staff or public arising from a work activity.

Whilst it may be difficult in practice for the HSE to take formal enforcement action in such circumstances as Ms Moss has raised, it would appear to us that they do have powers to investigate, and take action if considered appropriate.

Yours sincerely

Steve Presland
Head of Environmental Services  

VET TIMES - Further Comment

COMMENT 28th March 2005

Into the ring flies another veterinary study into MRSA in pets, but with one vital difference. Transmission of the "superbug" from the general populace to their pets. According to Professor David Taylor, from Glasgow Veterinary School, MRSA transmission from dogs and cats to humans is "entirely possible", although there have been no documented cases.

He said: "The 20 cases identified came from animals all over the country, not just Glasgow. Most have been wounds found naturally or at operation which have become infected. Very few have come from other vet practices."

This column has duly noted and followed the case of Jill Moss and her struggle to prove responsibility for the infection, subsequent complications and death of her samoyed, Bella. In the 14th February issue we directly quoted an abstract of a study about the emerging problem of MRSA from the BSAVA website, published in the JSAP.

It seems that mentioning Jill Moss' case alongside this extremely pertinent study caused some confusion, as the question as to whether the dog itself or the owner could have caused infection provoked a sharp response. We would like to point out that the BSAVAs website extract did not pertain specifically to Bella's situation. The question of responsibility is a contentious one, though it deserves reiteration that Veterinary Times' only aim is to highlight the issues, not to point the finger of blame.
VT

Human to animal transmission

This is a very helpful 8 page briefing note on all aspects of infectious disease cross species transmission

Click the link below to download it

Download Zoonosis_Staph2004.pdf

DEFRA MRSA BRIEFING

Defra Q&A Brief Re Methicillin-Resistant  Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in Animals.

Background information on MRSA is available on the Health Protection Agency web-site and is summarised in paragraphs 1 to 6; this information can also be accessed at the following web-address:

http://www.hpa.org.uk/infections/topics_az/staphylo/gen_inf.htm

You can download the DEFRA Brief by clicking the link below

Download defra-qa.pdf

You can visit their web site at: DEFRA

Here you can read more about Zoonotic diseases, anitmicrobial resistance and the DARC sub group on MRSA in animals (Jill Moss is a lay  member of DARC sub group)

RCVS warns surgeries to be MRSA aware

MRSA: A WARNING TO PRACTICES

All practices should be aware that MRSA infections, though not common, are a factor in veterinary practice. Many members of the general public have been exposed to the infection and some are carriers of the bacteria. In the case of veterinary practice, it should be expected that MRSA will be present in staff in the same, if not higher, proportions as the general populous. The basis of controlling MRSA in practice is first to be aware of the issue.

Practices should have written protocols regarding hygiene and cleanliness of clinical staff and premises, which should be rigorously adhered to. Premises should be regularly and thoroughly tested and, if pockets of, or trends in, infections are seen through clinical governance processes, steps should also be considered regarding the testing of staff. All practices should remain vigilant towards cases that present with nonhealing wounds and intransient infections. In such cases, MRSA testing should be considered to ensure not only that proper treatment is carried out, but also that proper advice be given to the owner regarding ongoing requirements in dealing with the situation. Further information is provided on the BSAVA’s website (www.bsava.com).

Antimicrobial drug use and resistance in dogs

Antimicrobial drug use and resistance in dogs

John F. Prescott, W. J. Brad Hanna, Richard Reid-Smith, and Kelli Drost Department of Pathobiology (Prescott, Drost), Department of Biomedical Sciences (Hanna), Department of Population Medicine (Reid-Smith), University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1; Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit, Laboratory for Foodborne Zoonoses, Health Canada, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1 (Reid-Smith).

Fifteen years (1984–1998) of records from a Veterinary Teaching Hospital were analyzed to determine whether antimicrobial drug resistance in coagulase-positive Staphylococcus spp. (S. aureus, S. intermedius) isolated from clinical infections in dogs has increased, and whether there has been a change in the species of bacteria isolated from urinary tract infections in dogs. In coagulase-positive Staphylococcus spp., a complex pattern showing both increases and decreases of resistance to different classes of antimicrobial drugs was observed, reflecting the changing use of different antimicrobial drug classes in the hospital over a similar period (1990–1999). In canine urinary tract infections identified from 1984 to 1998, an increase in the incidence of multiresistant Enterococcus spp. was apparent, with marginal increases also in incidence in Enterobacter spp. and in Pseudomonas aeruginosa, both of which, like Enterococcus spp., are innately antimicrobial-resistant bacteria.

A survey of directors of veterinary teaching hospitals in Canada and the United States identified only 3 hospitals that had any policy on use of “last resort” antimicrobial drugs (amikacin, imipenem, vancomycin). Evidence is briefly reviewed that owners may be at risk when dogs are treated with antimicrobial drugs, as well as evidence that some resistant bacteria may be acquired by dogs as a result of antimicrobial drug use in agriculture. Based in part on gaps in our knowledge, recommendations are made on prudent use of antimicrobial drugs in companion animals, as well as on the need to develop science-based infection control programs in veterinary hospitals.

Full article at PubMed - © Copyright and/or publishing rights held by the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association Can Vet J. 2002 February; 43(2): 107–116.