MRSA, Pigs and People

November 14, 2007 — 

Recent research publications from Europe and Canada have reported a newly identified methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus bacteria in livestock and people. The Non-typeable MRSA (NT-MRSA) joins the previously recognized Hospital Acquired and Community Acquired MRSA strains identified in Europe.

Groups such as Keep Antibiotics Working (KAW) are utilizing these studies to support their agenda to eliminate the use of antibiotics in livestock species. They are calling on Congress to provide funding and direction to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and "other relevant agencies" to conduct sampling of U.S. livestock for MRSA. They are also endorsing federal legislation entitled The Preservation of Antibiotics for Medical Treatment Act which would phase out the use of antibiotics that are important in human medicine as animal feed additives within two years.

MRSA is a bacteria not un-commonly found in the nasal passages and skin of humans, pigs and many other animals. While this NT-MRSA has been found in pigs, it is not known to cause clinical disease in pigs and has not been associated with any known recent human infections. There is currently no evidence that the recent increase in non-healthcare setting human MRSA cases is associated with contact with pigs.

Pork Checkoff has recently funded a research proposal to determine if NT-MRSA is present in U.S. swine herds, pork producers and veterinarians. NT-MRSA is not considered a food safety concern.