PLoS ONE (Jan 2015)

Livestock-associated MRSA in household members of pig farmers: transmission and dynamics of carriage, a prospective cohort study.

  • Brigitte A G L van Cleef,
  • Birgit H B van Benthem,
  • Erwin J M Verkade,
  • Miranda M L van Rijen,
  • Marjolein F Q Kluytmans-van den Bergh,
  • Haitske Graveland,
  • Thijs Bosch,
  • Koen M H W Verstappen,
  • Jaap A Wagenaar,
  • Marian E H Bos,
  • Dick Heederik,
  • Jan A J W Kluytmans

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0127190
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 10, no. 5
p. e0127190

Abstract

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This prospective cohort study describes carriage of livestock-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (LA-MRSA) in household members from 49 farrowing pig farms in the Netherlands (2010-2011). Of 171 household members, 4% were persistent MRSA nasal carriers, and the MRSA prevalence on any given sampling moment was 10% (range 7-11%). Working in the stables (of which 98% was MRSA-positive, prevalence ratio (PR) = 2.11 per 10 hours), working with sows (PR=1.97), and living with an MRSA-positive pig farmer (PR=4.63) were significant determinants for MRSA carriage. Significant protective factors were carriage of methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) (PR=0.50), and wearing a facemask when working in the stables (37% decreased prevalence). All MRSA strains during the study period were known livestock-associated types. The bacteriophage φ3 was not found in household members. Transmission from pigs and the environment appeared to be important determinants; human-to-human transmission could not sufficiently be differentiated. Wearing a facemask when working in the stables and carriage of MSSA are potential interventional targets.