MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus), sometimes referred to in the media as the ‘superbug’, kills around 5,000 human patients a year. MRSA infections are not a new concern to health care professionals, including veterinarians. Community-acquired MRSA strains have been on the rise for the last decade, but more light is being shed on how these infections are being spread between people and their pets.
We all live with different kinds of bacteria (Staphylococcus included) in us and on us without harmful effects and under normal conditions, these bacterium are relatively harmless. However, problems can occur when certain bacteria get into the blood stream or tissue through a cut or broken skin, particularly if the immune system is weakened. MRSA can be so difficult to treat that in some cases it is fatal. In recent years, the germ has become a growing problem for veterinarians, with an increasing number of infections turning up in birds, cats, dogs, horses, pigs, rabbits and rodents. The increase risk of exposure could potentially be a hazard to humans who own or spend time with these animals. It is unknown how often pets play a role in human infections by MRSA and how often human infect pets; physicians and veterinarians do not routinely trace such infections to their source
It has been thought that the extensive (and often unnecessary) use of antibiotics has led to the development of resistant strains of bacteria. Not just in humans; animals of all sorts have been given antibiotics to increase their weight, protect against infection, and to prevent disease. This overuse has encouraged bacteria to develop resistance to the very things that we need to use to treat serious infections. MRSA is most often spread by direct contact or by sneezes and coughs, and can be conveyed by people going from one environment to another. Research shows that it moves from the environment to people, from person to person, person to animal, or animal to person or environment. Pets can become carriers through the close physical contact they have with owners and vice verse, or from veterinary, grooming, or daycare staff who fail to wash properly after handling a carrier animal.
The first cases of MRSA in pets, about five years ago, appeared to be in therapy dogs and other animals exposed to patients or health care workers. Those animals are still thought to be at greatest risk, but the pattern might be changing. So far, it’s clear that humans and their pets can be colonized with the MRSA bacteria. That doesn’t mean they’ve got active infections, just that they’re carriers of the germs that are resistant to most frontline antibiotics. An ongoing study of some 600 people-pet households across the U.S. showed that staph aureus germs were present in nearly 28 percent of people and about 13 percent of pets. About 10 percent of households had both a human and an animal colonized.
MRSA, the drug-resistant strain, was detected in just over 5 percent of humans and about 3 percent of dogs and cats.
Here at Halsey East Animal Clinic, we always take the necessary precautions to prevent the spread of MRSA and other potentially dangerous pathogens. We are very cautious and aware of the role we play in the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and possible spread of these bugs. We would like to remind all of our clients that it is especially important to be sure to notify your veterinarian, technician, or veterinary staff before any kind of major surgical procedure if there is or has recently been any kind of MRSA infection in the home.
Pets that seem to be more susceptible to a serious infection are those that have severe allergies, endocrine issues, open wounds or are otherwise severely immunosuppressed. Most pets, even those within the estimated three percent of household dogs and cats that carry the bacteria, will never show any signs of infection. Even if a pet becomes colonized, meaning that the bacteria take up residence and reproduce, the experts say most healthy animals should be rid of it in a matter of weeks.
Still, we and other health care practitioners are not recommending routine testing of pets and their humans. Instead, we recommend the same kinds of precautions that apply to other pathogens, especially frequent washing or sanitizing of hands before and after playing with a pet. People should also wear gloves when attending to pets that have open wounds and should keep any of their own broken skin bandaged. It is especially important to be cautious if a human member of your household is immunosuppressed or will be having major surgery. This could cause them to be more susceptible to a latent MRSA infection passed to them by their pets.
If your pet is diagnosed with MRSA, or if you suspect an infection, don’t worry. In most cases it is treatable and simple common sense in general hygiene will prevent its spread. The best advice is to be attentive to your pets’ health in general and contact a veterinarian right away if your pet is not acting normal.
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