Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus ST398 in swine farm personnel, Belgium.
We assessed methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in persons on 49 swine farms in Belgium. Surveys showed that 48 (37.8%) persons carried MRSA ST398 and 1 (0.8%) had concurrent skin infection. Risk factors for carriage were MRSA carriage by pigs, regular contact with pigs and companion animals, and use of protective clothing.
Denis
Olivier
O
Université Libre de Bruxelles Hôpital Erasme, Brussels, Belgium. odenis@ulb.ac.be
Suetens
Carl
C
Hallin
Marie
M
Catry
Boudewijn
B
Ramboer
Ilse
I
Dispas
Marc
M
Willems
Glenda
G
Gordts
Bart
B
Butaye
Patrick
P
Struelens
Marc J
MJ
D000383:Agriculture / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000818:Animals; D001530:Belgium / Q000453:epidemiology; D003020:Clothing / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D016106:Methicillin Resistance; D055624:Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012307:Risk Factors; D017192:Skin Diseases, Bacterial / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013552:Swine / Q000382:microbiology*