Incidence of acquisition of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Clostridium difficile, and other health-care-associated pathogens by dogs that participate in animal-assisted interventions.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether dogs that visited human health-care facilities were at greater risk of acquiring certain health-care-associated pathogens, compared with dogs performing animal-assisted interventions in other settings, and to identify specific behaviors of dogs associated with an increased risk of acquiring these pathogens.


METHODS
Prospective cohort and nested case-control studies.


METHODS
96 dogs that visited human health-care facilities and 98 dogs involved in other animal-assisted interventions.


METHODS
Fecal samples and nasal swab specimens were collected from dogs at the time of recruitment and every 2 months for 1 year and were tested for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Clostridium difficile, and other selected bacteria. Information was also obtained on facilities visited during animal-assisted interventions, dog diet, dog illnesses, and antimicrobial use within the home. At the end of the study, dog handlers were asked about the behavior of their dogs during visits to health-care facilities.


RESULTS
Rates of acquisition of MRSA and C difficile were 4.7 and 2.4 times as high, respectively, among dogs that visited human health-care facilities, compared with rates among dogs involved in other animal-assisted interventions. Among dogs that visited human health-care facilities, those that licked patients or accepted treats during visits were more likely to be positive for MRSA and C difficile than were dogs that did not lick patients or accept treats.


CONCLUSIONS
Results suggested that dogs that visited human health-care facilities were at risk of acquiring MRSA and C difficile, particularly when they licked patients or accepted treats during visits.
Lefebvre
Sandra L
SL
Department of Population Medicine, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada.
Reid-Smith
Richard J
RJ
Waltner-Toews
David
D
Weese
J Scott
JS
D000818:Animals; D002353:Carrier State; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016360:Clostridioides difficile / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D003015:Clostridium Infections / Q000382:microbiology / Q000635:transmission / Q000662:veterinary; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003625:Data Collection; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000382:microbiology / Q000635:transmission; D004285:Dogs / Q000382:microbiology*; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D006268:Health Facilities; D006801:Humans; D055624:Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D009666:Nose / Q000382:microbiology; D009864:Ontario; D012307:Risk Factors; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000382:microbiology / Q000635:transmission / Q000662:veterinary; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires