Abstract
BackgroundMethicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections are common among humans in Aboriginal communities in Canada, for unknown reasons.MethodsCross sectional study of humans and dogs in an Aboriginal community of approximately 1200 persons. Our objectives were to measure community-based prevalence of nasal MRSA colonization among humans, use multivariable logistic regression to analyze risk factors for MRSA colonization, and perform molecular typing of Staphylococci isolated to investigate interspecies transmission.Results461 humans were approached for consent and 442 provided complete data. 109/442 (24.7 %, 95 % C.I. = 20.7–28.7 %) of humans were colonized with MRSA. 169/442 (38.2 %) of humans had received antibiotics in the last 12 months. Only number of rooms in the house (OR 0.86, p = 0.023) and recreational dog use (OR 7.7, p = 0.002) were significant risk factors for MRSA colonization. 95/109 (87.1 %) of MRSA strains from humans were of the same spa type (CMRSA10/USA300). 8/157 (5.1 %, 95 % C.I. = 1.7–8.5 %) of dogs were colonized with methicillin-susceptible S. aureus, and no dogs were colonized with MRSA.ConclusionsHuman MRSA colonization in this community is very common, and a single clone is predominant, suggesting local transmission. Antibiotic use is also very common. Crowding may partially explain high colonization, but most considered risk factors including animal exposure were not predictive. Very few dogs carried human Staphylococcal strains.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12889-016-3220-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
Highlights
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections are common among humans in Aboriginal communities in Canada, for unknown reasons
Six risk factors were significantly predictive (Table 2). These risk factors were entered into a multivariate regression and only two were significantly predictive (Table 3): Rooms in house and recreational dog use
The majority of MRSA isolated from humans contained spa types associated with CMRSA10 (95/109, 87.1 %)
Summary
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections are common among humans in Aboriginal communities in Canada, for unknown reasons. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a highly virulent bacterial pathogen which is resistant to standard antibiotic therapy. Colonization or infection with this organism is associated with excess morbidity and mortality, prolonged length of hospital stay, and MRSA is an increasing cause of hospital and communityacquired infections, due to selection because of widespread inappropriate antibiotic use in humans [2] and companion animals [3, 4]. Regional screening practice for detection of MRSA colonization is variable, meaning population representative colonization rates are not available. The prevalence of MRSA colonization outside of a healthcare setting is not generally available, due to logistical challenges, and representative community subpopulations are generally analyzed, an approach with inherit sampling bias
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