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SafeGuard. Work package 2.3 LAMethicillin- Resistent-Staphylococcus-Aureus-(MRSA) in livestock
Project
Project code: keine Angabe
Contract period: 01.01.2008
- 31.12.2013
Purpose of research: Applied research
While the Netherlands are classically regarded as a low prevalence country regarding
the occurrence of MRSA in healthcare facilities, it has been documented
that this is not the case for livestock-associated MRSA. In workpackage 2.3 it
was documented that the problem of LA-MRSA involves both Dutch and German
livestock holdings in a similar manner. However, some differences have been
found, because molecular typing of the MRSA isolates obtained in the longitudinal
studies and German prevalence investigations revealed an unequal distribution,
e.g. of the LA-MRSA clone t108 on both sides of the border (predominance
on the Dutch side of t108 and t034 on the German side). The reasons for this
discrepancy are still unknown. Similar prevalence rates and distribution patterns
stress the need for concerted actions when implementing preventive interventions
to forestall spread in livestock holdings.
Moreover, it was found that humans seem to be equally affected by LA-MRSA on
both sides of the border, since preliminary results of the PreMa study indicate a
similar prevalence of LA-MRSA among patients attending general practitioners
on both sides of the border. The high colonisation rates detected among pig
farmers (77%) indicate that MRSA poses a risk for infections in this group of
persons and reflects the similar exposure rate on both sides of the border. Since
it was found (in contrast to previous investigations by other researchers) that
MRSA carriage was rather persistent among farmers, it should be recommended
to perform active decolonisation treatments prior to special risk interventions
(e.g. surgical procedures), because it is unlikely that colonisation will “clear”
spontaneously.
Molecular characterisation of the MRSA isolates allowed for developing a rapid
test system for the identification of LA-MRSA (ST 398) using melting curve
analysis. This test can be applied in line with routine diagnostic procedures in
hospitals on both sides of the border.
Section overview
Subjects
- Animal health
