title: Evaluation of pet contact as a risk factor for carriage of multidrug-resistant staphylococci in nursing home residents.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pets, often used as companionship and for psychological support in the therapy of nursing home residents, have been implicated as reservoirs for antibiotic-resistant bacteria. We investigated the importance of pets as reservoirs of multidrug-resistant (MDR) staphylococci in nursing homes.
  
  
  METHODS
  We assessed the carriage of MDR staphylococci in pets and in 2 groups of residents, those living in nursing homes with pets and those living without pet contacts. We collected demographic, health status, and human-pet contact data by means of questionnaires. We assessed potential bacteria transmission pathways by investigating physical resident-to-pet contact.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The observed prevalence of MDR staphylococci carriage was 84/229 (37%) in residents living with pets and 99/216 (46%) in those not living with pets (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.6; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.4-0.9). Active pet contact was associated with lower carriage of MDR staphylococci (aOR, 0.5; 95% CI, 0.4-0.8). Antibiotic treatment during the previous 3 months was associated with significantly increased risk for MDR carriage in residents (aOR, 3.1; 95% CI, 1.8-5.7).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We found no evidence that the previously reported benefits of pet contact are compromised by the increased risk of carriage of MDR staphylococci in residents associated with interaction with these animals in nursing homes. Thus, contact with pets, always under good hygiene standards, should be encouraged in these settings.
authors.affiliation: Cantonal Institute of Microbiology, Bellinzona, Switzerland. paola.decristophoris@unibas.ch
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gandolfi-Decristophoris
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: De Benedetti
authors.forename: Christiane
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Petignat
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Attinger
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Guillaume
authors.forename: Lena
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fiebig
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hattendorf
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Cernela
authors.forename: Gertraud
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Regula
authors.forename: Orlando
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Petrini
authors.forename: Jakob
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zinsstag
authors.forename: Esther
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Schelling
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000818:Animals; D002353:Carrier State / Q000382:microbiology / Q000635:transmission / Q000662:veterinary*; D002415:Cats; D004197:Disease Reservoirs / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D004285:Dogs; D024901:Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009735:Nursing Homes; D016017:Odds Ratio; D057805:Pets / Q000382:microbiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000635:transmission / Q000662:veterinary*; D013210:Staphylococcus / Q000502:physiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013557:Switzerland / Q000453:epidemiology