title: A cross sectional study of animal and human colonization with Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in an Aboriginal community.
abstract: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections are common among humans in Aboriginal communities in Canada, for unknown reasons.
  
  
  
  Cross sectional study of humans and dogs in an Aboriginal community of approximately 1200 persons. Our objectives were to measure community-based prevalence of nasal MRSA colonization among humans, use multivariable logistic regression to analyze risk factors for MRSA colonization, and perform molecular typing of Staphylococci isolated to investigate interspecies transmission.
  
  
  
  461 humans were approached for consent and 442 provided complete data. 109/442 (24.7 %, 95 % C.I. = 20.7-28.7 %) of humans were colonized with MRSA. 169/442 (38.2 %) of humans had received antibiotics in the last 12 months. Only number of rooms in the house (OR 0.86, p = 0.023) and recreational dog use (OR 7.7, p = 0.002) were significant risk factors for MRSA colonization. 95/109 (87.1 %) of MRSA strains from humans were of the same spa type (CMRSA10/USA300). 8/157 (5.1 %, 95 % C.I. = 1.7-8.5 %) of dogs were colonized with methicillin-susceptible S. aureus, and no dogs were colonized with MRSA.
  
  
  
  Human MRSA colonization in this community is very common, and a single clone is predominant, suggesting local transmission. Antibiotic use is also very common. Crowding may partially explain high colonization, but most considered risk factors including animal exposure were not predictive. Very few dogs carried human Staphylococcal strains.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Laboratory Medicine, Memorial University, Room 1 J421 300 Prince Phillip Dr, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, A1B 3V6, Canada. pkd336@mun.ca.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-7068-8056
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Daley
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Health, Memorial University, St. John's, Canada.
authors.forename: Janak
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bajgai
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Memorial University, St. John's, Canada.
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Penney
authors.affiliation: Happy Valley Goose Bay, Labrador, Canada.
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, St. John's, Canada.
authors.forename: Hugh
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Whitney
authors.affiliation: National Microbiology Laboratory, Winnipeg, Canada.
authors.forename: George R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Golding
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Guelph, Guelph, Canada.
authors.forename: Scott
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Weese
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D002170:Canada; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000382:microbiology*; D004285:Dogs; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007198:Indians, North American; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D055624:Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D008875:Middle Aged; D058889:Molecular Typing; D009666:Nose / Q000382:microbiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000635:transmission
keywords: Aboriginal; Colonization; Dog; Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus