MRSA vs. MRSP in Dogs & Cats
MRSA is the abbreviation for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Staphylococcus aureus is a type of bacteria primarily found in people and may also be called Staph aureus, S. aureus, or a staph infection. Methicillin is a type of antibiotic that was created in the late 1950s to combat Staphylococcus aureus bacteria that had become resistant to penicillin. For bacteria that are resistant to an antibiotic, that means the antibiotic, which should normally be able to kill the bacteria, is not strong enough to kill it. In other words, those antibiotics no longer work. In the early 1960s it was discovered that some S. aureus bacteria had also become resistant to methicillin. Thus, MRSA became the new name for this type of bacteria.
Even though methicillin is no longer used today, the name remains because MRSA, and its veterinary counterpart MRSP, remain resistant to many types of antibiotics (referred to as a multi-drug resistant bacteria), making it extremely hard to kill. Even more concerning is that MRSA is quick to adapt, or change, to its current environment, so it is able to become resistant to new drugs and treatments and avoid being removed by the immune system. This limits the options of what can be used to treat infections caused by MRSA.
MRSP stands for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus pseudointermedius (S. pseudointermedius). Unlike S. aureus, S. pseudointermedius is more commonly found on dogs, and less commonly cats, than people. It too is resistant to numerous drugs and adapts quickly to the immune system, so it is a big concern for veterinary patients.
Where Do MRSA and MRSP Come from?
MRSA can be contracted by people from their environment, such as the community where they live and work, or in a hospital or nursing home setting. Any person can get MRSA. Risk for infection is increased with crowded areas, skin to skin contact with an infected person, and sharing equipment or supplies (e.g. medical equipment, towels, shaving razors). Open wounds, such as a scratch, are a common site for infection. One study found that 5% of people hospitalized in the United States carry MRSA in their nose or on their skin, even if they do not show symptoms. MRSP can be contracted from the environment as well, but may be more likely to come from a veterinary hospital setting.
What Does MRSA or MRSP Look Like?
Common MRSA infections include pneumonia, skin, bloodstream (sepsis), or surgical site infections. Common sites of infection for MRSP are the skin, open wounds, and surgical sites. MRSP can also occur from skin infections that the pet already had. Pets with skin infections caused by a different bacteria or microbe can actually develop MRSP before the first infection has healed.
It is important to understand that you cannot tell by looking at infected skin or wounds what type of infection it is. See a veterinarian for your pet, or a physician for you or your family members, if you suspect an infection so it can be checked out thoroughly and handled appropriately.
Can I Get MRSA or MRSP from My Pet?
Technically, all people and pets can develop MRSA and MRSP infections. However, MRSA does not thrive well on animals because it has become so well adapted to living on people. Dogs and cats can develop MRSA infections, but if they are healthy, the bacteria won’t be able to grow and multiply as well as it would on a human being. Many healthy pets’ immune systems can beat the infection within a few weeks. While MRSA can potentially be transmitted between pets and people, it is much more likely for people to transmit MRSA to pets rather than pets infecting people. Of further importance, research has shown that there is no need to test pets for MRSA if a human becomes infected.
MRSP infections in people are uncommon, and the risk of transmission from an infected pet to humans is low. This is because, like MRSA, MRSP has adapted itself to live more easily on pets. In fact, it is extremely difficult to get rid of once it has started growing and multiplying. Dogs could potentially have MRSP for months to years, and in some cases, for life. Although transmission of MRSP from pets to humans is not common, transmission from pets to other pets is a concern, so care should be taken to prevent bacterial spread if possible.
How Do I Prevent MRSA/MRSP?
Good hygiene, such as frequent hand washing and regularly bathing, are great ways to help prevent spread of infection. Wash bedding and towels regularly. Cover any open or healing wounds with a bandage, making sure to change it regularly. Finally, if you or your pet are prescribed antibiotics, make sure to take or give them exactly as prescribed and finish all of them.
MRSA ni kifupi cha methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Staphylococcus aureus ni aina ya bakteria inayopatikana hasa kwa watu na inaweza pia kuitwa Staph aureus, S. aureus, au maambukizi ya staph. Methicillin ni aina ya dawa ya kuua viini iliyoundwa mwishoni mwa miaka ya 1950 kupambana na bakteria ya Staphylococcus aureus ambayo ilikuwa imepinga penicillin. Kwa bakteria ambayo ni sugu kwa antibiotic, hiyo inamaanisha kwamba antibiotic ambayo kwa kawaida inapaswa kuua bakteria, si nguvu ya kutosha kuua. Kwa maneno mengine, dawa hizo za kuua viini hazifanyi kazi tena. Katika miaka ya 1960s, bakteria ya S. aureus iligunduliwa kuwa na uwezo wa kuzuia methicillin. Hivyo, MRSA ikawa jina jipya la aina hiyo ya bakteria. Ingawa methicillin haitumiki tena leo, jina hilo linabaki kwa sababu MRSA, na mwenzake wa mifugo MRSP, bado ni sugu kwa aina nyingi za viuavijasumu (inajulikana kama bakteria sugu kwa dawa nyingi), na inafanya kuwa ngumu sana kuua. Hata hivyo, kuna wasiwasi kwamba MRSA hujipatanisha haraka na mazingira yake, na hivyo huwa na uwezo wa kukabiliana na dawa mpya na matibabu na kuepuka kuondolewa na mfumo wa kinga. Hii hupunguza chaguzi za kile kinachoweza kutumiwa kutibu maambukizo yanayosababishwa na MRSA. MRSP ni kifupi cha Staphylococcus pseudointermedius (S. pseudointermedius) inayopinga methicillin. Tofauti na S. aureus, S. pseudointermedius hupatikana kwa kawaida kwenye mbwa, na mara chache paka, kuliko watu. Pia ni sugu kwa dawa nyingi na hujipatanisha haraka na mfumo wa kinga, kwa hiyo ni wasiwasi mkubwa kwa wagonjwa wa mifugo. MRSP na MRSA zinatokana wapi? MRSA inaweza kuambukizwa na watu kutoka kwa mazingira yao, kama vile jamii ambapo wanaishi na kufanya kazi, au katika mazingira ya hospitali au nyumba ya uuguzi. Mtu yeyote anaweza kuambukizwa MRSA. Hatari ya kuambukizwa huongezeka katika maeneo yenye watu wengi, kuwasiliana na mtu aliyeambukizwa, na kushiriki vifaa au vifaa (kwa mfano, vifaa vya matibabu). Vifaa vya matibabu, viatu, mashine za kunyoa. Majeraha ya wazi, kama vile makwaruzo, ni mahali pa kawaida pa kuambukizwa. Utafiti mmoja unaonyesha kwamba asilimia 5 ya wagonjwa wanaolazwa hospitalini nchini Marekani wana virusi vya MRSA kwenye pua au ngozi, hata kama hawana dalili. MRSP inaweza kupatikana kutoka kwa mazingira pia, lakini inaweza kuwa na uwezekano mkubwa zaidi kutoka kwa mazingira ya hospitali ya mifugo. MRSP au MRSA ni nini? Maambukizo ya kawaida ya MRSA yanatia ndani nimonia, ngozi, mtiririko wa damu (sepsis), au maambukizo ya mahali pa upasuaji. Sehemu za kawaida za maambukizi ya MRSP ni ngozi, majeraha ya wazi, na maeneo ya upasuaji. MRSP inaweza pia kutokea kutokana na maambukizo ya ngozi ambayo mnyama tayari alikuwa nayo. Wanyama wana maambukizi ya ngozi yanayosababishwa na bakteria au vimelea tofauti wanaweza kuendeleza MRSP kabla ya maambukizo ya kwanza kupona. Ni muhimu kuelewa kwamba huwezi kujua kwa kuangalia ngozi au majeraha yaliyoambukizwa ni aina gani ya maambukizo. Angalia daktari wa wanyama kwa ajili ya mnyama wako, au daktari kwa ajili yako au familia yako, kama una shaka maambukizi, hivyo inaweza kuwa checked nje kikamilifu na kushughulikiwa ipasavyo. Je, unaweza kupata MRSA au MRSP kutoka kwa mnyama wako? Kwa kweli, watu wote na wanyama wa kufugwa wanaweza kuambukizwa virusi vya MRSA na MRSP. Hata hivyo, virusi hivyo haviwezi kuenea kwa urahisi kwenye wanyama kwa sababu vimebadilika sana na kuwa na uwezo wa kuenea kwa watu. Mbwa na paka wanaweza kuambukizwa MRSA, lakini ikiwa wana afya nzuri, bakteria hiyo haiwezi kukua na kuongezeka kama ilivyo kwa binadamu. Mifumo ya kinga ya wanyama wengi wenye afya inaweza kushinda maambukizo ndani ya majuma machache. Ingawa MRSA inaweza kuambukizwa kati ya wanyama wa kufugwa na watu, ni uwezekano mkubwa kwa watu kuambukiza MRSA kwa wanyama wa kufugwa kuliko wanyama wa kufugwa kuambukiza watu. Utafiti unaonyesha kwamba hakuna haja ya kupima wanyama kwa MRSA ikiwa binadamu ataambukizwa. Ugonjwa wa MRSP katika watu ni wa kawaida, na hatari ya maambukizi kutoka kwa mnyama aliyeambukizwa kwa wanadamu ni ya chini. Kwa sababu, kama MRSA, MRSP imejipatanisha kuishi kwa urahisi zaidi kwenye wanyama wa kufugwa. Kwa kweli, ni vigumu sana kuiondoa mara tu inapokuwa imeanza kukua na kuzidisha idadi. Mbwa wanaweza kuwa na MRSP kwa miezi hadi miaka, na katika baadhi ya kesi, kwa maisha. Ingawa maambukizi ya MRSP kutoka kwa wanyama wa kufugwa hadi wanadamu si ya kawaida, maambukizi kutoka kwa wanyama wa kufugwa hadi wanyama wengine wa kufugwa ni wasiwasi, kwa hivyo tahadhari inapaswa kuchukuliwa kuzuia kuenea kwa bakteria ikiwa inawezekana. Jinsi ya Kuzuia MRSA na MRSP Utakasi mzuri, kama vile kuosha mikono mara kwa mara na kuoga mara kwa mara, ni njia nzuri ya kusaidia kuzuia kuenea kwa maambukizo. Osha vitambaa vya kitanda na taulo kwa ukawaida. Funga majeraha yoyote yaliyo wazi au yanayopona kwa bandage, na hakikisha kwamba unaibadilisha kwa ukawaida. Ikiwa wewe au mnyama wako wa kipenzi umepokea dawa za kuua viini, hakikisha kuwa unachukua au kutoa dawa hizo kama ilivyoelezwa na kumaliza zote.