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| Researchers examine whether or not pet cats and dogs are a major source of multi-resistant bacteria in humans. |
Researchers suspect that a recent rise in antibiotic-resistant bacteria infections in the general population is stemming from something other than a hospital visit where most of these infections crop up.
“We used to think of these antibiotic-resistant infections as a health care issue that appeared in postoperative or long-term patients,” said Stephanie Kottler, a resident at the university’s Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital. “However, we have been seeing more of these infections that have been acquired throughout the general population, or ‘community acquired’ infections. It’s important to know what environmental factors might be encouraging or prolonging these infections.”
MRSA bacteria can live in the nose or on the skin of a human or pet without producing symptoms. The bacteria, however, becomes dangerous when it enters the body through a cut or puncture, producing a serious infection, such as pneumonia.
Kottler suspects pets might play a role in the increase of community infections in prison populations, athletes and households.
In some cases, the people may be passing a Staphylococcus aureus bacterium to their pet, which then passes it back to the person causing a potentially fatal infection in the human, Kottler said.
So far, they have collected about 500 nasal swabs from human health care workers, veterinary health care workers and the general population, as well as anal and nasal swabs from cats and dogs.
Published results aren’t expected until next spring, although analysis of the results could begin as early as this fall.