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Home / Equine Research Bank / J Vet Intern Med / Isolation of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus fro...
Journal of veterinary internal medicine2004; 18(4); 468-470; doi: 10.1892/0891-6640(2004)182.0.co;2

Isolation of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus from the environment in a veterinary teaching hospital.

Abstract: After recognition of a cluster of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection in horses and humans at the Ontario Veterinary College Veterinary Teaching Hospital, environmental contamination with MRSA was evaluated. A total of 260 environmental surfaces were sampled during periods when MRSA-infected horses were hospitalized, and MRSA was isolated from 25/260 sites (9.6%). The most commonly contaminated sites were stalls housing MRSA-positive horses, but other stalls, medical equipment, personal items, and equine restraint devices also were contaminated. The role of the environment in the transmission of MRSA infection to horses or humans is unclear. However, relatively widespread contamination of the hospital environment, as apparently occurs when infected horses are hospitalized, suggests that the environment may be an important source of MRSA infection. This possibility must be taken into consideration when designing infection control and disinfection protocols.
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Publication Date: 2004-08-24 PubMed ID: 15320581DOI: 10.1892/0891-6640(2004)182.0.co;2Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article
  • Research Support
  • Non-U.S. Gov't

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This research investigated the presence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in the environment of a veterinary teaching hospital. The findings revealed that MRSA contaminated various surfaces within the hospital, suggesting the environment could be a significant source of infection.

Research Purpose and Methodology

  • The study was initiated after a series of MRSA infections were identified among horses and humans at the Ontario Veterinary College Veterinary Teaching Hospital. It aimed to understand the extent to which the hospital environment was contaminated by MRSA.
  • Researchers tested a total of 260 environmental surfaces. These included different locations like stalls, medical equipment, personal items, and equine restraint devices. The tests were conducted during the periods when MRSA-infected horses were hospitalized.

Results and Findings

  • Out of the 260 sampled sites, 25 (approx. 9.6%) were found to be contaminated with MRSA. This suggested a significant presence of the bacteria within the hospital environment.
  • The most commonly contaminated sites were the stalls that housed MRSA-positive horses. However, the bacteria were not limited to these locations, and other stalls and equipment within the hospital were found to be contaminated.

Significance and Implications

  • Although the exact role of environmental contamination in the transmission of MRSA to horses or humans is not clearly defined, the relatively widespread contamination in the hospital seems to suggest that the environment could be a crucial source of MRSA infection.
  • The results underscore the importance of considering environmental contamination when designing infection control and disinfection protocols. This is crucial not only for preventing the spread of infection among horses but also for the protection of humans who interact with these horses and work under these conditions.

Cite This Article

APA
Weese JS, DaCosta T, Button L, Goth K, Ethier M, Boehnke K. (2004). Isolation of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus from the environment in a veterinary teaching hospital. J Vet Intern Med, 18(4), 468-470. https://doi.org/10.1892/0891-6640(2004)182.0.co;2

Publication

Journal of veterinary internal medicine
ISSN: 0891-6640
NlmUniqueID: 8708660
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 18
Issue: 4
Pages: 468-470

Researcher Affiliations

Weese, J Scott
  • Department of Clinical Studies, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada. jsweese@uoguelph.ca
DaCosta, Tara
    Button, Lea
      Goth, Kathryn
        Ethier, Michael
          Boehnke, Kendra

            MeSH Terms

            • Animals
            • Cross Infection / microbiology
            • Cross Infection / transmission
            • Cross Infection / veterinary
            • Disease Reservoirs
            • Hospitals, Animal
            • Methicillin Resistance
            • Ontario
            • Staphylococcal Infections / microbiology
            • Staphylococcal Infections / transmission
            • Staphylococcal Infections / veterinary
            • Staphylococcus aureus / isolation & purification

            Citations

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