Prevalence of MRSA CC398 in pig holdings

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a major cause of healthcare- and community-associated infections worldwide. MRSA has emerged in pigs. Within the framework of the Euregio project SafeGuard VetMed-net, dust samples and nasal swabs were collected in the Euregio in 2009 and 2010. Mostly found are CC 398 Livestock-associated (LA)-MRSA. The prevalence of MRSA on pig farms in the Euregio is higher, than the overall prevalence in Germany as indicated by a recent EFSA report. Spa types t011and t034 are still predominant. Using a dust sampling method, 59% of all pig holdings were affected. Among 103 MRSA isolates seven different spa types were found, including t011, t034, t2510,, t1456 and t108, t588, t1606. All MRSA found were associated with CC398