Prevalence of livestock-associated MRSA in communities with high pig-densities in The Netherlands.
BACKGROUND
Recently, livestock-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus CC398 has been discovered in animals, livestock farmers and retail meat. This cross-sectional study aimed to determine the spread to persons not in direct contact with livestock in areas with a high density of pig farms.


RESULTS
With a random mailing in 3 selected municipalities in The Netherlands, adult persons were asked to fill in a questionnaire and to take a nose swab. In total, complete information was obtained on 583 persons. Of the 534 persons without livestock-contact, one was positive for MRSA (0.2%; 95% confidence interval, <0.01-1.2). Of the 49 persons who did indicate to be working at or living on a livestock farm, 13 were positive for MRSA (26.5%; 95% confidence interval, 16.1-40.4). All spa-types belonged to CC398.


CONCLUSIONS
Livestock-associated MRSA has a high prevalence in people with direct contact with animals. At this moment it has not spread from the farms into the community.
van Cleef
Brigitte A
BA
Centre for Infectious Disease Control Netherlands, RIVM National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, The Netherlands. brigitte.van.cleef@rivm.nl
Verkade
Erwin J M
EJ
Wulf
Mireille W
MW
Buiting
Anton G
AG
Voss
Andreas
A
Huijsdens
Xander W
XW
van Pelt
Wilfrid
W
Mulders
Mick N
MN
Kluytmans
Jan A
JA
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000818:Animals; D000829:Animals, Domestic / Q000382:microbiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D055624:Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D011156:Population Density; D015995:Prevalence; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000635:transmission; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013552:Swine / Q000254:growth & development / Q000382:microbiology; D013553:Swine Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000635:transmission; D055815:Young Adult; D015047:Zoonoses / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000635:transmission