Household Pets May Transmit Deadly MRSA Infections, Researchers Say

Bites from the family dog or cat can expose people to a potentially deadly and drug-resistant form of bacterial infection, new research shows.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA, is called a “super bug” because it can spread quickly and resist treatments with many common types of antibiotics used to treat infections. MRSA infections were once found almost exclusively in hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, and other healthcare settings, but more recently, MRSA cases have been reported in schools, military barracks, and other areas where large numbers of people are gathered in close quarters. Improper hand washing, insufficient sterilization of stethoscopes and other medical equipment, and other unsanitary conditions are commonly blamed for spreading MRSA.

Scientists tracking the increasing rate of MRSA infections recently started studying whether dogs, cats, and other household pets might also be passing the potentially deadly infection to their owners and other people, especially young children who are most at risk of potentially deadly infection.

“As community-acquired strains of MRSA increase in prevalence, a growing body of clinical evidence has documented MRSA colonization in domestic animals, often implying direct acquisition of S aureus infection from their human owners,” said researchers from the University of South Florida College of Medicine. “MRSA colonization has been documented in companion animals such as horses, dogs, and cats, and these animals have been viewed as potential reservoirs of infection.”

At-Risk Groups

About one percent of United States emergency room visits are due to bites from dogs and cats, the researchers said. Certain groups of people are most at risk of developing MRSA from such incidents, including:

• Elderly women

• Men of all ages

• Men and women under age 20

• Children, especially boys aged 5 to 9 years

Also, the study found that non-neutered dogs are more likely to bite and potentially pass a drug-resistant infection such as MRSA.

According to the new study, about one in five dog or cat bites results in severe infections caused by Capnocytophaga, Fusobacterium, Pasteurella, and Streptococcus bacteria from the animal’s mouth. Also, other pathogens in the human’s skin also may contribute to an infection. Animal bites to the hands, forearms, neck, and head have the highest rate of deadly infection, the researchers said.

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