Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus colonization and infection risks from companion animals: current perspectives

Abstract

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) remains one of the most virulent human pathogens and has also recently been recognized as such in the veterinary settings. Companion animals, including dogs, cats, horses, small exotic animals, wildlife animals, and livestock, may constitute a reservoir for MRSA transmission to humans and vice versa. The evolution, emergence, and risk factors for MRSA transmission among colonized or infected animals are reviewed in the present paper, and infection control practices are discussed.

Keywords:

• methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus
• companion animals
• close contacts

Acknowledgments

We thank Professor ED Anastassiou for the critical review and corrections and Dr N Giormezis for his contribution in the format of the manuscript.

Disclosure

The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.