TY - JOUR
T1 - Detection of livestock-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus among swine workers in Romania
AU - Huang, Eileen
AU - Gurzau, Anca E.
AU - Hanson, Blake M.
AU - Kates, Ashley E.
AU - Smith, Tara C.
AU - Pettigrew, Melinda M.
AU - Spinu, Marina
AU - Rabinowitz, Peter M.
PY - 2014/7
Y1 - 2014/7
N2 - Background: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a devastating pathogen that is associated with high morbidity and mortality worldwide. Livestock are a well-known reservoir for this pathogen, which poses substantial health risks for livestock workers. Little is known about the epidemiology of livestock-associated MRSA (LA-MRSA) among livestock workers in Eastern Europe. Methods: To study the epidemiology of LA-MRSA among swine workers in Romania, we collected and characterized nasal and oropharygneal samples from swine workers on commercial pig farms. A survey that included questions about work-related tasks, biosafety practices, contact with animals, and health status was used to assess the risk factors that were potentially associated with LA-MRSA colonization. Results: The prevalence of MRSA colonization among swine workers was 6.8%. Two LA-MRSA strains with the spa types t034 and t011 and one likely community-associated MRSA strain with the spa type t321 were isolated from workers on five farms. Interestingly, all MRSA carriers worked on farms that imported animals from other production facilities. Conclusion: This is the first study to confirm the presence of LA-MRSA among swine workers in Romania and suggests the need to minimize the risk of LA-MRSA-related infections in swine workers and their community contacts. The findings also suggest a link between the commercial movement of swine and the introduction of LA-MRSA.
AB - Background: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a devastating pathogen that is associated with high morbidity and mortality worldwide. Livestock are a well-known reservoir for this pathogen, which poses substantial health risks for livestock workers. Little is known about the epidemiology of livestock-associated MRSA (LA-MRSA) among livestock workers in Eastern Europe. Methods: To study the epidemiology of LA-MRSA among swine workers in Romania, we collected and characterized nasal and oropharygneal samples from swine workers on commercial pig farms. A survey that included questions about work-related tasks, biosafety practices, contact with animals, and health status was used to assess the risk factors that were potentially associated with LA-MRSA colonization. Results: The prevalence of MRSA colonization among swine workers was 6.8%. Two LA-MRSA strains with the spa types t034 and t011 and one likely community-associated MRSA strain with the spa type t321 were isolated from workers on five farms. Interestingly, all MRSA carriers worked on farms that imported animals from other production facilities. Conclusion: This is the first study to confirm the presence of LA-MRSA among swine workers in Romania and suggests the need to minimize the risk of LA-MRSA-related infections in swine workers and their community contacts. The findings also suggest a link between the commercial movement of swine and the introduction of LA-MRSA.
KW - Antimicrobial resistance
KW - Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)
KW - Occupational exposure
KW - Swine
KW - Zoonoses
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U2 - 10.1016/j.jiph.2014.03.008
DO - 10.1016/j.jiph.2014.03.008
M3 - Article
C2 - 24821273
AN - SCOPUS:84904070950
SN - 1876-0341
VL - 7
SP - 323
EP - 332
JO - Journal of Infection and Public Health
JF - Journal of Infection and Public Health
IS - 4
ER -