scholarly journals Phage Treatment Trial to Eradicate LA-MRSA from Healthy Carrier Pigs

Viruses ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (10) ◽  
pp. 1888
Author(s):  
Henni Tuomala ◽  
Marie Verkola ◽  
Anna Meller ◽  
Jasper Van der Auwera ◽  
Sheetal Patpatia ◽  
...  

The increase of livestock-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (LA-MRSA) causes a threat to human health. LA-MRSA can be transmitted from animals to animal caretakers, which may further spread MRSA to communities and health care facilities. The objective of this work was to study the efficacy of phage treatment in the eradication of LA-MRSA from healthy carrier pigs. A total of 19 MRSA -positive weanling pigs were assigned to a test (n = 10) and a control group (n = 9). A phage cocktail containing three Staphylococcus phages, or a control buffer was administered to the nares and skin of the pigs three times every two days, after which the phage and MRSA levels in nasal and skin swab samples were monitored for a three-week period. The sensitivity of the strains isolated during the follow-up period to the phage cocktail and each phage individually was analyzed and the pig sera were tested for antibodies against the phages used in the cocktail. The phage treatment did not cause any side effects to the pigs. Phages were found in the skin and nasal samples on the days following the phage applications, but there was no reduction in the MRSA levels in the sampled animals. Phage-resistant strains or phage-specific antibodies were not detected during the experiment. The MRSA load in these healthy carrier animals was only 10–100 CFU/swab or nasal sample, which was likely below the replication threshold of phages. The effectiveness of phage treatment to eradicate MRSA from the pigs could thus not be (reliably) determined.

2021 ◽  
Vol 74 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Crespo-Piazuelo ◽  
Peadar G. Lawlor

AbstractSince the 1940s, Staphylococcus aureus has adapted to the use of different antimicrobials to treat infections. Although S. aureus can act as a commensal bacterium, some strains are facultative pathogens and acquiring them can be fatal. In particular, treating infections caused by S. aureus with acquired antimicrobial resistance is problematic, as their treatment is more difficult. Some of these S. aureus variants are methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) with prevalence across the globe in health-care facilities, community settings and on livestock farms. Apart from humans, MRSA can colonise other animal species, and because of this, resistance to new antimicrobials can appear and jump between species. Livestock and companion animals are particularly important in this regard considering the relatively high usage of antimicrobials in these species. There is a risk to humans who come into direct contact with animals acquiring MRSA but there is also the risk of animals acquiring MRSA from colonised humans. In this review, we summarise studies conducted worldwide to characterise the prevalence of MRSA in veterinarians, farmers and other personnel who come into close contact with animals. Finally, alternative treatment, preventive measures and on-farm strategies to reduce MRSA introduction to a farm and carriage within a herd are discussed.


2014 ◽  
Vol 8 (01) ◽  
pp. 116-119 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alejandra Ruiz ◽  
Marcelo Mora ◽  
Camilo Zurita ◽  
Danny Larco ◽  
Yadira Toapanta ◽  
...  

Introduction: Colonization of health care workers with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has been an important route of dispersion and infection of MRSA and has been implicated in epidemic outbreaks. The objective of the present study was to assess prevalence of MRSA colonization in the anterior nares of health care personnel at the intensive care unit (ICUs) of three hospital facilities in Quito, Ecuador. Methodology: The prevalence of MRSA in specimens from all ICU health care workers of three hospitals was measured by using a real-time PCR assay and CHROMagar MRSA. Results: The prevalence of MRSA among the three health care facilities was 2.4%. Conclusion: The prevalence of MRSA colonization was relatively low compared to other studies and showed no differences between hospital facilities.


Author(s):  
Sarah E. Sansom ◽  
Emily Benedict ◽  
Stephanie N. Thiede ◽  
Bala Hota ◽  
Alla Aroutcheva ◽  
...  

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is an important cause of health care-associated (HA) and community-associated (CA) infections, but the epidemiology of these strains (USA100 and USA300, respectively) now overlaps in health care settings. Although sequencing technology has become more available, many health care facilities still lack the capabilities to perform these analyses.


2018 ◽  
Vol 14 (33) ◽  
pp. 104
Author(s):  
Meng-Ping Wu ◽  
Lee-Ing Tsao

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects, both initially and after 6 months, of an “advanced movable restraint” with openended palm sleeve restraint bands for the elderly residents at long-term care facilities in northern Taiwan. Background. Elderly residents in long-term care facilities are often forced to remain bed-ridden by traditional bed restraint bands due to their irritable, confused conditions and the associated risks of self-extubating their nasogastric (NG) tubes, urinary catheters, etc. However, the traditional bed restraint bands can themselves lead to further physical and mental complications such as skin damage, depression, hostility, and even rhabdomyolysis, increasing the risk of death. Design. Quasiexperimental design. Methods: This parallel-design study was conducted with elderly residents at eight long-term care facilities. The newly designed advanced movable restraint featuring movable open-ended palm sleeve restraint bands was applied to the elderly residents in the experimental group, allowing them greater freedom of movement such that they were not required to remain bed-ridden. In contrast, the elderly residents in the control group were restrained with traditional bed restraints requiring that they remain bedridden. The following four instruments and indicators were then used to compare the effects of the two types of restraints: (1) an activities of daily living (ADL) survey based on the Barthel Index, (2) a muscle power test, (3) an exercise frequency and duration survey, and (4) self-extubation rates. The effects of the interventions were tested by using the t test or chi-square test to compare pre-test results for the ADL survey, muscle power test, exercise frequency and duration survey, and self-extubation rates to those at a 6-month follow-up. Results: A total of 80 elderly residents were included in the experimental group, while 80 elderly residents were included in the control group. At the 6-month follow-up, the residents restrained with the advanced movable restraint had a significantly increased mean muscle power score (χ2 =17.212, P < 0.001), significantly decreased self-extubation rate (χ2 =40.733, P < .001), and significantly increased exercise frequency and duration per week (χ2=27.095 P < 0.001; 26.241 P < 0.001). Conclusions: This study showed that the advanced movable restraint can improve muscle power scores, self-extubation rates, and exercise frequencies and durations by allowing residents greater freedom of movement without the need to remain bed-ridden. It is thus crucial to use such advanced movable restraints and develop standardized technology systems to support the elderly residents and nurses in long-term care facilities.


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