How is MRSA transmitted between animals and humans?
The researchers say that MRSA is a relatively new problem and the bug is being shared between domestic animals and their handlers. They discuss the epidemiology, clinical effects and management of bite-related MRSA infection in detail. They say that MRSA infection arising in the community has become increasingly common over the past ten years. The strains that cause these community infections (most commonly the USA300 strain) are different from the hospital-acquired strains in that they are easily passed between individuals in the household, often cause skin and soft tissue infections, and are generally susceptible to most antibiotics, other than the commonly prescribed beta-lactams. The authors say that, as these community-acquired MRSA strains have become more common, there has been growing evidence of the presence of MRSA infection in domestic animals such as dogs, cats and horses. These infections are thought to be acquired by the pets from their owners and could result in the infe
