Pigs as Source of MRSA Infections in Humans, Denmark
Author Information
Author(s): Lewis Hannah C., Mølbak Kåre, Reese Catrin, Aarestrup Frank M., Selchau Mette, Sørum Marit, Skov Robert L.
Primary Institution: Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
Hypothesis
Is methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) CC398 transmitted from pigs to humans?
Conclusion
Pigs are a significant source of MRSA CC398 infections in humans in Denmark.
Supporting Evidence
- Thirteen case-patients reported pig exposure.
- Living or working on farms with animals was an independent risk factor for CC398.
- A total of 23 of 50 pigs on 4 of 5 farms were positive for CC398.
Takeaway
People who live or work on pig farms can get sick from a type of bacteria called MRSA that comes from pigs.
Methodology
Matched case-control and case-case studies comparing MRSA CC398 case-patients with controls from the Danish Civil Registry.
Potential Biases
Potential bias from self-reported data and the exclusion of secondary case-patients.
Limitations
Recall bias may affect the accuracy of reported exposures over the past year.
Participant Demographics
Median age of case-patients was 29 years, with 62% female.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.05
Confidence Interval
95% CI 2.7–469.8
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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