Increase in a Dutch hospital of meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus related to animal farming

In The Netherlands a new reservoir of MRSA has recently been identified in pigs and veal calves upon which the 'Dutch Working Party on Infection Prevention' modified the national MRSA guidelines. In June 2006 a new group at risk of MRSA carriage was included, consisting of patients that reported direct exposure to living pigs or veal calves. After the implementation of this modification in a training hospital located in an area with a relatively high density of pig farming, a threefold increase in the annual incidence of MRSA was found. Upon screening, thirty-two percent of the individuals in the new risk group was shown to carry MRSA. In conclusion, a new reservoir of MRSA in pigs and calves has been established which is associated with an extremely high carriage rate among people who are exposed to these animals.