title: Transmissibility of livestock-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.
abstract: Previous findings have suggested that the nosocomial transmission capacity of livestock-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (LA-MRSA) is lower than that of other MRSA genotypes. We therefore performed a 6-month (June 1-November 30, 2011) nationwide study to quantify the single-admission reproduction number, RA, for LA-MRSA in 62 hospitals in the Netherlands and to compare this transmission capacity to previous estimates. We used spa typing for genotyping. Quantification of RA was based on a mathematical model incorporating outbreak sizes, detection rates, and length of hospital stay. There were 141 index cases, 40 (28%) of which were LA-MRSA. Contact screening of 2,101 patients and 7,260 health care workers identified 18 outbreaks (2 LA-MRSA) and 47 secondary cases (3 LA-MRSA). RA values indicated that transmissibility of LA-MRSA is 4.4 times lower than that of other MRSA (not associated with livestock).
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Hetem
authors.forename: Martin C J
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Bootsma
authors.forename: Annet
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Troelstra
authors.forename: Marc J M
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Bonten
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D058751:Livestock / Q000382:microbiology*; D055624:Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission*
keywords: MRSA; bacteria; community; livestock; methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus; transmission