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Updated: Feb 26, 2026
Subcutaneous Infection of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus MRSA
Published on: February 9, 2011
Environmental surveillance identifies multiple introductions of MRSA CC398 in an Equine Veterinary Hospital in the
Alessio Bortolami1, Nicola J Williams2, Catherine M McGowan1,3
1Institute of Veterinary Science, University of Liverpool, Neston, Wirral, CH64 7TE, UK.
Abstract:
Bacterial environmental and surgical site infection (SSI) surveillance was implemented from 2011-2016 in a UK Equine Referral Veterinary Hospital and identified 81 methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) isolates. A cluster of MRSA SSIs occurred in early 2016 with the isolates confirmed as ST398 by multilocus sequence typing (MLST), which prompted retrospective analysis of all MRSA isolates obtained from the environment (n = 62), SSIs (n = 13) and hand plates (n = 6) in the past five years. Sixty five of these isolates were typed to CC398 and a selection of these (n = 38) were further characterised for resistance and virulence genes, SCCmec and spa typing. Overall, MRSA was identified in 62/540 (11.5%) of environmental samples, 6/81 of the hand-plates (7.4%) and 13/208 of the SSIs (6.3%). spa t011 was the most frequent (24/38) and Based Upon Repeat Pattern (BURP) analysis identified spa t011 as one of the two group founders of the main spa CC identified across the five years (spa CC011/3423). However, 3 singletons (t073, t786, t064) were also identified suggesting separate introductions into the hospital environment. This long-term MRSA surveillance study revealed multiple introductions of MRSA CC398 in a UK Equine Hospital, identifying an emerging zoonotic pathogen so far only sporadically recorded in the UK.
Insights
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) CC398 was frequently found in a UK equine hospital
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Microbiology
- Infectious Diseases
- One Health
Background:
- Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) poses a significant threat in healthcare settings.
- Equine hospitals can act as reservoirs for MRSA, potentially leading to surgical site infections (SSIs).
- Surveillance of MRSA in veterinary hospitals is crucial for understanding transmission dynamics and public health risks.
Purpose of the Study:
- To conduct long-term surveillance of MRSA in a UK Equine Referral Veterinary Hospital.
- To investigate the prevalence and genetic characteristics of MRSA isolates from environmental, SSI, and hand plate samples.
- To identify the sources and transmission routes of MRSA CC398 within the equine hospital environment.
Main Methods:
- Bacterial surveillance for MRSA from 2011-2016.
- Multilocus sequence typing (MLST) to identify sequence type 398 (ST398).
- Further characterization including spa typing, SCCmec analysis, and screening for resistance and virulence genes.
Main Results:
- MRSA was detected in 11.5% of environmental samples, 7.4% of hand plates, and 6.3% of SSIs.
- Sixty-five isolates were typed to CC398, with spa t011 being the most frequent.
- Evidence of multiple introductions of MRSA CC398 into the hospital environment was observed.
Conclusions:
- MRSA CC398 is endemic in this UK equine hospital, with multiple introductions.
- The hospital environment serves as a reservoir for MRSA, contributing to SSIs.
- This study highlights MRSA CC398 as an emerging zoonotic pathogen in the UK equine setting.
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