Exploratory study on the association between exposure and MRSA carriage in veal calf farmers

The presence of Livestock Associated MRSA (LA-MRSA) in humans is related to intensity of animal contact. Little is known of the persistence and dynamics of LA-MRSA carriage. A longitudinal study was conducted among 155 veal farmers who were sampled with repeated nasal and throat swabs for MRSA detection. Periods with and without animal contact were covered. The presence of LA-MRSA in farmers is strongly animal-contact related. The rapidly decreasing MRSA prevalence during absence of animal contact suggests that LA-MRSA is a poor persistent colonizer in humans. These results are of relevance for MRSA control strategies