Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in veterinary professionals in 2017 in the Czech Republic

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Medicine
• Infectious Diseases
• Microbiology

Background:

• Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a concern in animal-associated professions.
• Veterinary personnel are at risk for MRSA colonization or infection.
• Previous studies have indicated varying prevalence rates in this demographic.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of MRSA nasal carriage among veterinary professionals.
• To characterize the genotypes of isolated MRSA strains.
• To assess the potential for healthcare-associated MRSA transmission in animals.

Main Methods:

• Nasal swabs were collected from 134 healthy veterinary professionals at a conference in the Czech Republic.
• Samples were tested for the presence of MRSA.
• Isolated MRSA strains underwent genotypic and phenotypic characterization, including sequence type (ST), spa type (t), and Staphylococcal Cassette Chromosome mec (SCCmec) type.

Main Results:

• MRSA was detected in 6.72% of the veterinary professionals (9 out of 134).
• Five distinct MRSA genotypes were identified, with ST398-t011-IV being the most common (5 isolates).
• Eight isolates were consistent with animal-associated MRSA strains, while one suggested a nosocomial origin. No healthcare-associated MRSA strains were found among animals.

Conclusions:

• The prevalence of MRSA nasal carriage in Czech veterinary personnel is 6.72%.
• This represents an increase from previous findings but remains lower than in some neighboring countries.
• Current data suggest that healthcare-associated MRSA strains are not widespread among animals in this population.