Eradication of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and of Enterobacteriaceae expressing extended-spectrum beta-lactamases on a model pig farm.
Colonization of livestock with bacteria resistant to antibiotics is considered a risk for the entry of drug-resistant pathogens into the food chain. For this reason, there is a need for novel concepts to address the eradication of drug-resistant commensals on farms. In the present report, we evaluated the decontamination measures taken on a farm contaminated with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Enterobacteriaceae expressing extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBL-E). The decontamination process preceded the conversion from piglet breeding to gilt production. Microbiological surveillance showed that the decontamination measures eliminated the MRSA and ESBL-E strains that were detected on the farm before the complete removal of pigs, cleaning and disinfection of the stable, and construction of an additional stable meeting high-quality standards. After pig production was restarted, ESBL-E remained undetectable over 12 months, but MRSA was recovered from pigs and the environment within the first 2 days. However, spa (Staphylococcus aureus protein A gene) typing revealed acquisition of an MRSA strain (type t034) that had not been detected before decontamination. Interestingly, we observed that a farmworker who had been colonized with the prior MRSA strain (t2011) acquired the new strain (t034) after 2 months. In summary, this report demonstrates that decontamination protocols similar to those used here can lead to successful elimination of contaminating MRSA and ESBL-E in pigs and the stable environment. Nevertheless, decontamination protocols do not prevent the acquisition of new MRSA strains.
Institute of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany Institute of Animal Science, Preventive Health Management Group, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany ricarda.schmithausen@ukb.uni-bonn.de isabelle.bekeredjian-ding@pei.de.
Ricarda Maria
RM
Schmithausen
Institute of Animal Science, Preventive Health Management Group, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
Sophia Ricarda
SR
Kellner
Institute of Animal Science, Preventive Health Management Group, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
Sophia Veronika
SV
Schulze-Geisthoevel
Institute for Hygiene and Public Health, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
Sylvia
S
Hack
Institute for Hygiene and Public Health, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
Steffen
S
Engelhart
Institute of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
Isabel
I
Bodenstein
Institute of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
Nahed
N
Al-Sabti
Institute of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
Marion
M
Reif
Institute of Medical Biometry, Epidemiology and Computer Science, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
Rolf
R
Fimmers
Antiinfectives Intelligence GmbH, Campus University of Applied Sciences Bonn-Rhein-Sieg, Rheinbach, Germany.
Barbara
B
Körber-Irrgang
Chamber of Agriculture of North Rhine-Westphalia, Bonn, Germany.
Jürgen
J
Harlizius
Institute of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
Achim
A
Hoerauf
Institute for Hygiene and Public Health, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
Martin
M
Exner
Institute of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
Gabriele
G
Bierbaum
Institute of Animal Science, Preventive Health Management Group, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
Brigitte
B
Petersen
Institute of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany Division of Microbiology, Paul-Ehrlich-Institut, Langen, Germany ricarda.schmithausen@ukb.uni-bonn.de isabelle.bekeredjian-ding@pei.de.
Isabelle
I
Bekeredjian-Ding
D000383:Agriculture; D000818:Animals; D000829:Animals, Domestic; D002353:Carrier State / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D004203:Disinfection / Q000379:methods*; D004755:Enterobacteriaceae / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004756:Enterobacteriaceae Infections / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary*; D055624:Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary*; D013552:Swine; D001618:beta-Lactamases / Q000378:metabolism*
D001618:beta-Lactamases