Abstract
The aim of this study was to determine the long-term carriage rates and transmission dynamics of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in pig farmers and their household members. During a 6-month period in 2009–2010, 4 pig farms in Denmark, Belgium, and the Netherlands, respectively, were studied for the presence of MRSA. The proportion of persistent carriers was significantly higher among farmers than among household members (87% vs. 11%) and significantly higher in household members from Belgium compared to those from Denmark and the Netherlands (29% vs. 0% vs. 6%). Determinant analysis of MRSA carriage revealed that pig contact was the most important determinant for MRSA carriage among household members and that the increased MRSA carriage rate observed among household members from Belgium is linked to country-specific differences in pig exposure.These findings demonstrated that even in pig farms with very high carriage rates of MRSA both in livestock and farmers, the risk for household members to acquire MRSA is limited and still depends strongly on pig exposure. By restricting access to the stables and exposure to pigs, MRSA acquisition by household members could be greatly reduced.
Highlights
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a threat to public health worldwide
We found that 87% of pig farmers were persistent LA-MRSA nasal carriers for a period of at least 6 months
In Denmark and the Netherlands, the carriage rate, defined as intermittent and persistent carriers together, ranged between 7–19%, which is comparable to the MRSA nasal carriage rates found in family members of Dutch veal calf farmers (16%) [8], but much higher than the 0.2% reported in the Netherlands in people without any livestock contact [21]
Summary
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a threat to public health worldwide. To the well-known hospitalassociated and community-associated clones, another specific clone unrelated to the aforementioned has been discovered, which originates from an extensive reservoir in food-producing animals: livestock-associated (LA-) MRSA. This clone belongs typically to multi-locus sequence type (ST) 398 and closely related STs within clonal complex (CC) 398, lacks Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL), and is resistant to tetracycline. Some studies have suggested that carriage in household members could depend on the presence of positive livestock farmers [8] and that the contaminated farm environment could contribute to the transmission as well [10,14]. These studies were limited to a short period of time and the in-house farm environment was not studied
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
