Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) on the skin of long-term hospitalised horses.
Abstract: Given the significance of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections for both horses and staff in equine veterinary hospitals, protocols are required to minimise the risk of nosocomial transmission, including the screening of the skin and nasal chambers of equine patients for evidence of infection. The objective of this study was to clarify the potential existence and extent of MRSA on the skin of horses requiring long-term hospitalisation (≥ 6 months). Thirty such horses were sampled at eight different locations on their skin and from their nasal chambers. MRSA was isolated from 12 animals (40%), with all sample sites testing positive on at least one occasion. Organisms were most frequently detected in the nasal chambers (relative sensitivity, 83.3%; 34.5% positive horses; isolation rate 33.3%). Skin presence was found in 30% of animals with the highest isolation rates found at the carpus (16.7%), neck, withers and croup (13.3% each). To achieve a relative screening sensitivity of >90%, at least one skin site was required in addition to nasal sampling. This evidence of skin as well as nasal reservoirs of MRSA in long-term hospitalised horses should facilitate the design of effective screening and containment protocols.
Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Publication Date: 2012-01-20 PubMed ID: 22264643DOI: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2011.12.004Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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The study examined the presence and extent of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), an antibiotic-resistant bacteria, on the skin and nasal regions of horses needing long-term hospitalisation. It was found that a combination of skin and nasal tests was necessary for a thorough screening.
Objective and Methodology of the Study
- The aim of the research was to assess the extent of MRSA on the skin of horses that have been hospitalised for six months or more. This is particularly important because MRSA is a significant risk for the staff and other horses in veterinary hospitals.
- In this study, 30 horses that were subjected to long-term hospitalisation were tested for MRSA. Samples were taken from eight different locations on their skin and also from their nasal chambers.
Findings of the Study
- MRSA was found in 12 out of 30 horses, showing that the percentage of infection in long-term hospitalised horses is significant (40%). All of the sampled sites on the horses showed the presence of MRSA at least once.
- The nasal chambers were the most frequent site where MRSA was found. The infection rate here was 33.3%, with 34.5% horses testing positive.
- MRSA was also present on skin sites, with an infection rate of 30%, the carpus, neck, withers and croup (the top of the horse’s hindquarters) being most frequently affected.
- To achieve a relative screening sensitivity of >90%, at least one skin site in addition to nasal sampling was found to be required.
Conclusions and Implications
- The findings of this study confirm that MRSA can exist not only in the nasal regions but also on the skin of horses that need to be hospitalised for long durations.
- The results of the study could help in designing effective protocols for screening and containing MRSA in equine veterinary hospitals. Careful monitoring of the skin and nasal chambers in horses would be central to these protocols, considering their high frequency of MRSA infections.
Cite This Article
APA
Van den Eede A, Hermans K, Van den Abeele A, Floré K, Dewulf J, Vanderhaeghen W, Crombé F, Butaye P, Gasthuys F, Haesebrouck F, Martens A.
(2012).
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) on the skin of long-term hospitalised horses.
Vet J, 193(2), 408-411.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tvjl.2011.12.004 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Surgery and Anaesthesiology of Domestic Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium. Annelies.VandenEede@Ugent.be
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology
- Bacterial Typing Techniques / veterinary
- Belgium / epidemiology
- Horse Diseases / epidemiology
- Horse Diseases / microbiology
- Horses
- Methicillin / pharmacology
- Methicillin Resistance / genetics
- Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / genetics
- Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / isolation & purification
- Microbial Sensitivity Tests / veterinary
- Nose Diseases / epidemiology
- Nose Diseases / microbiology
- Nose Diseases / veterinary
- Polymerase Chain Reaction / veterinary
- Staphylococcal Skin Infections / epidemiology
- Staphylococcal Skin Infections / microbiology
- Staphylococcal Skin Infections / veterinary
Citations
This article has been cited 11 times.- Marcolina M, Williams ZJ, Hendrickson D, Pezzanite LM. Evaluation of Sterility of Saline Formulations Manufactured for Wound Care in Veterinary Practice. Vet Sci 2025 Apr 30;12(5).
- Allano M, Arsenault J, Archambault M, Fairbrother JH, Sauvé F. Prevalence and Risk Factors of Staphylococcus aureus Nasal Colonization in Horses Admitted to a Veterinary Teaching Hospital. J Vet Intern Med 2025 May-Jun;39(3):e70027.
- Zendri F, Isgren CM, Devaney J, Schmidt V, Rankin R, Timofte D. Resistome-based surveillance identifies ESKAPE pathogens as the predominant gram-negative organisms circulating in veterinary hospitals. Front Microbiol 2023;14:1252216.
- Nwobi OC, Anyanwu MU, Jaja IF, Nwankwo IO, Okolo CC, Nwobi CA, Ezenduka EV, Oguttu JW. Staphylococcus aureus in Horses in Nigeria: Occurrence, Antimicrobial, Methicillin and Heavy Metal Resistance and Virulence Potentials. Antibiotics (Basel) 2023 Jan 24;12(2).
- Gehlen H, Klein KS, Merle R, Lübke-Becker A, Stoeckle SD. Does colonization with MRSA, ESBL - producing Enterobacteriaceae, and/or Acinetobacter baumannii - increase the risk for postoperative surgical site infection?. Vet Med Sci 2023 Mar;9(2):729-737.
- Daniels A, Pezzanite LM, Griffenhagen GM, Hendrickson DA. Evaluation of factors associated with surgical site infection in equine proximal interphalangeal joint arthrodesis: 54 cases (2010-2019). Vet Med Sci 2022 Jul;8(4):1478-1488.
- Little SV, Hillhouse AE, Lawhon SD, Bryan LK. Analysis of Virulence and Antimicrobial Resistance Gene Carriage in Staphylococcus aureus Infections in Equids Using Whole-Genome Sequencing. mSphere 2021 Aug 25;6(4):e0019620.
- Krause DM, Pezzanite LM, Griffenhagen GM, Hendrickson DA. Comparison of equine synovial sepsis rate following intrasynovial injection in ambulatory versus hospital settings. Equine Vet J 2022 May;54(3):523-530.
- Pezzanite LM, Griffenhagen GM, Krause DM, Hendrickson DA. Retrospective evaluation of association between perioperative antimicrobial protocol and complications following elective equine synovial endoscopy. Vet Med Sci 2021 May;7(3):609-620.
- Pezzanite L, Chow L, Piquini G, Griffenhagen G, Ramirez D, Dow S, Goodrich L. Use of in vitro assays to identify antibiotics that are cytotoxic to normal equine chondrocytes and synovial cells. Equine Vet J 2021 May;53(3):579-589.
- Van den Eede A, Martens A, Feryn I, Vanderhaeghen W, Lipinska U, Gasthuys F, Butaye P, Haesebrouck F, Hermans K. Low MRSA prevalence in horses at farm level. BMC Vet Res 2012 Nov 7;8:213.
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