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Journal of veterinary internal medicine2006; 20(1); 182-186; doi: 10.1892/0891-6640(2006)20[182:msaiha]2.0.co;2

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in horses at a veterinary teaching hospital: frequency, characterization, and association with clinical disease.

Abstract: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is an emerging equine pathogen. To attempt to control nosocomial and zoonotic transmission, an MRSA screening program was established for all horses admitted to the Ontario Veterinary College Veterinary Teaching Hospital, whereby nasal screening swabs were collected at admission, weekly during hospitalization, and at discharge. MRSA was isolated from 120 (5.3%) of 2,283 horses: 61 (50.8%) at the time of admission, 53 (44.2%) during hospitalization, and 6 from which the origin was unclear because an admission swab had not been collected. Clinical infections attributable to MRSA were present or developed in 14 (11.7%) of 120 horses. The overall rate of community-associated colonization was 27 per 1,000 admissions. Horses colonized at admission were more likely to develop clinical MRSA infection than those not colonized at admission (OR 38.9, 95% CI 9.49 160, P < 0.0001). The overall nosocomial MRSA colonization incidence rate was 23 per 1,000 admissions. The incidence rate of nosocomial MRSA infection was at the rate of 1.8 per 1,000 admissions, with an incidence density of 0.88 per 1,000 patient days. Administration of ceftiofur or aminoglycosides during hospitalization was the only risk factor associated with nosocomial MRSA colonization. MRSA screening of horses admitted to a veterinary hospital was useful for identification of community-associated and nosocomial colonization and infection, and for monitoring of infection control practices.
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Publication Date: 2006-02-25 PubMed ID: 16496939DOI: 10.1892/0891-6640(2006)20[182:msaiha]2.0.co;2Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

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.

The research article investigates the incidence, characterization and relationship with clinical disease of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in horses at a veterinary teaching hospital.

Research Background and Methodology

  • The research was instrumental in understanding an emerging equine pathogen, Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), and the potential for its nosocomial and zoonotic transmission.
  • Throughout the research, MRSA screening was implemented for all horses admitted to the Ontario Veterinary College Veterinary Teaching Hospital. This involved collecting nasal swabs on arrival, weekly throughout their time in the hospital, and upon discharge.

Findings

  • MRSA was discovered in 120 (5.3%) out of 2,283 horses. At the time of admission, 50.8% (61) of these horses were carriers of MRSA. During hospitalization, an additional 44.2% (53) horses were found to be carriers, while 6 horses couldn’t be confirmed because entry-swabs were not taken.
  • Approximately 11.7% (14) of the 120 horses either arrived with or developed clinical infections from MRSA.
  • The overall rate of colonization upon admission as determined by this study was 27 in every 1000 admissions.
  • Possibly the significant finding of the study is that horses found to be carriers of MRSA on arrival were much more likely to develop clinical MRSA infections as compared to those who were not. The odds ratio for this finding was 38.9, with a confidence interval of 9.49 to 160 and P < 0.0001 demonstrating statistical significance.
  • The overall hospital-acquired (nosocomial) MRSA colonization rate was identified to be 23 per 1,000 admissions. Nosocomial MRSA infection occurred at a rate of 1.8 per 1,000 admissions, and a density incidence of 0.88 per 1,000 patient days.

Risk Factors and Implications

  • The sole risk factor identified as being linked to hospital-acquired MRSA colonization was treatment with ceftiofur or aminoglycosides during the hospitalization period.
  • The findings emphasize the usefulness of MRSA screening for identifying both community-associated and hospital-acquired colonization and infection. Additionally, this study provides establishing benchmarks for monitoring infection control practices in veterinary settings.

Cite This Article

APA
Weese JS, Rousseau J, Willey BM, Archambault M, McGeer A, Low DE. (2006). Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in horses at a veterinary teaching hospital: frequency, characterization, and association with clinical disease. J Vet Intern Med, 20(1), 182-186. https://doi.org/10.1892/0891-6640(2006)20[182:msaiha]2.0.co;2

Publication

Journal of veterinary internal medicine
ISSN: 0891-6640
NlmUniqueID: 8708660
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 20
Issue: 1
Pages: 182-186

Researcher Affiliations

Weese, J S
  • Department of Clinical Studies, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada. jsweese@uoguelph.ca
Rousseau, J
    Willey, B M
      Archambault, M
        McGeer, A
          Low, D E

            MeSH Terms

            • Animals
            • Carrier State
            • Case-Control Studies
            • Community-Acquired Infections / microbiology
            • Community-Acquired Infections / veterinary
            • Cross Infection / microbiology
            • Cross Infection / veterinary
            • Horse Diseases / epidemiology
            • Horse Diseases / microbiology
            • Horses / microbiology
            • Hospitals, Animal
            • Methicillin Resistance
            • Ontario / epidemiology
            • Risk Factors
            • Staphylococcal Infections / epidemiology
            • Staphylococcal Infections / microbiology
            • Staphylococcal Infections / veterinary
            • Staphylococcus aureus / drug effects
            • Staphylococcus aureus / isolation & purification
            • Staphylococcus aureus / physiology

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