| Issue |
Vet. Res.
Volume 41, Number 5, September–October 2010
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Number of page(s) | 12 | |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1051/vetres/2010028 | |
| Published online | 29 April 2010 | |
| How to cite this article | Vet. Res. (2010) 41:55 | |
Original article
Risk factors for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection in dogs and cats: a case-control study
1
Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, The Royal Veterinary College, University of London, Hawkshead Lane, North Mymms, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, AL9 7TA, United Kingdom
2 Present address: School of Population Health, University of Queensland, Public Health Building Herston Road, Herston QLD 40006, Australia
3
Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, St. George’s, University of London, Cranmer Terrace, London, SW17 0RE, United Kingdom
4
IDEXX Laboratories Wetherby, Grange House, Sandbeck Way, Wetherby, West Yorkshire, LS22 7DN, United Kingdom
5
4 Teringie Drive, Teringie SA 5065, Australia
* Corresponding author: r.magalhaes@sph.uq.edu.au
Received:
6
October
2009
Accepted:
26
April
2010
Risk factors for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection in dogs and cats were investigated in an unmatched case-control study. A total of 197 animals from 150 veterinary practices across the United Kingdom was enrolled, including 105 MRSA cases and 92 controls with methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA) infection. The association of owners and veterinarian staff with the human healthcare sector (HCS) and animal-related characteristics such as signalment, antimicrobial and immunosuppressive therapy, and surgery were evaluated as putative risk factors using logistic regression. We found that significant risk factors for MRSA infection were the number of antimicrobial courses (p = 0.005), number of days admitted to veterinary clinics (p = 0.003) and having received surgical implants (p = 0.001). In addition, the odds of contact with humans which had been ill and admitted to hospital (p = 0.062) were higher in MRSA infected pets than in MSSA controls. The risk factors identified in this study highlight the need to increase vigilance towards identification of companion animal groups at risk and to advocate responsible and judicious use of antimicrobials in small animal practice.
Key words: methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infection / risk factor / dog / cat / case-control study
© The authors, published by INRA/EDP Sciences, 2010
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any noncommercial medium, provided the original work is properly cited.