title: The impact of zoonotic MRSA colonization and infection in Germany.
abstract: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) causes colonization and infection both in animals and humans. In Germany, cases of MRSA colonization among humans, w+hich affect 0.5-1.5% of the general population and 1.0-2.5% of patients at hospital admission, are still mostly associated with previous healthcare contact and defined epidemic clonal lineages. However, MRSA is also distributed in livestock production in Germany, mostly without causing infections in the animals. These MRSA predominantly belong to the clonal complex (CC) 398, but also to CC9 and CC97. Zoonotic transmission of MRSA CC398 from livestock to humans occurs predominantly in people with occupational livestock contact. Spread of MRSA CC398 to household members of these persons is also frequently observed, but dissemination in the general population is limited so far However, especially in areas with intensive livestock husbandry, about 20-38% of MRSA CC398 cases among humans cannot be epidemiologically linked to direct livestock contact, indicating other transmission pathways. MRSA CC398 currently causes about 2% of all human MRSA infections (wound infections, pneumonia, sepsis) in Germany, but up to 10% in regions characterized by a high density of livestock-farming. The burden of MRSA in companion animals was demonstrated to range between 3.6-9.4% within wound samples obtained from dogs, cats and horses, respectively. In contrast to livestock and horses, MRSA distributed in pet animals are mostly associated with MRSA clonal lineages that are also prevalent in human healthcare facilities. Overall, zoonotic exchange of MRSA between humans and animals has relevant impact on the epidemiology of MRSA in Germany.
authors: Robin
authors: R
authors: Köck
authors: Britta
authors: B
authors: Ballhausen
authors: Markus
authors: M
authors: Bischoff
authors: Christiane
authors: C
authors: Cuny
authors: Tim
authors: T
authors: Eckmanns
authors: Alexandra
authors: A
authors: Fetsch
authors: Dag
authors: D
authors: Harmsen
authors: Tobias
authors: T
authors: Goerge
authors: Boris
authors: B
authors: Oberheitmann
authors: Stefan
authors: S
authors: Schwarz
authors: Thomas
authors: T
authors: Selhorst
authors: Bernd-Alois
authors: BA
authors: Tenhagen
authors: Birgit
authors: B
authors: Walther
authors: Wolfgang
authors: W
authors: Witte
authors: Wilma
authors: W
authors: Ziebuhr
authors: Karsten
authors: K
authors: Becker
mesh_terms: D000822:Animal Husbandry; D000818:Animals; D002353:Carrier State / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary; D002415:Cats; D004285:Dogs; D005516:Food Microbiology; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006736:Horses; D006801:Humans; D008460:Meat / Q000382:microbiology; D055624:Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D015047:Zoonoses / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology*