Joyce Rousseau

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus Colonization in Veterinary Personnel

TOC Summary: Prevalence of colonization was 6.5%, and employment within a large-animal practice was a significant risk factor.

Methicillin-resistant staphylococcal colonization in clinically normal dogs and horses in the community

Aims:  To evaluate the prevalence of methicillin‐resistant staphylococcal (MRS) colonization in clinically normal dogs and horses in the community.

Use of a Selective Enrichment Broth To Recover Clostridium difficile from Stool Swabs Stored under Different Conditions

ABSTRACT The recovery of Clostridium difficile from the stools of patients with C. difficile-associated diarrhea was evaluated by use of an enrichment broth (cycloserine-cefoxitin fructose broth supplemented with 0.1% sodium taurocholate [TCCFB]) and was compared to that from selective agar (cycloserine-cefoxitin fructose agar [CCFA]) and alcohol shock followed by inoculation onto blood agar (AS-BA). TCCFB was superior to CCFA and AS-BA, and neither the storage time nor the storage temperature affected the recovery rate.

Characterization of the biofilm forming ability of Staphylococcus pseudintermedius from dogs

BackgroundStaphylococcus pseudintermedius is an opportunistic pathogen of dogs and has emerged as a leading cause of skin, wound and surgical site infections worldwide. Methicillin resistance is common and clinical infections as a result of methicillin-resistant S. pseudintermedius (MRSP) pose a clinical challenge. In other staphylococci, biofilm formation has been shown to be a virulence factor for infection, however, it has received little attention in S. pseudintermedius. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the biofilm forming ability of clinical isolates of S. pseudintermedius obtained from dogs using phenotypic and genotypic techniques.Results96% (136/140) of S. pseudintermedius isolates were classified as strong or moderate biofilm producers, with the majority of isolates being able to produce biofilm. There was no difference in biofilm formation between MRSP and MSSP (p=0.8), amongst isolates from clinical infections compared with isolates obtained from colonized dogs (p=0.08), and between isolates from sequence type (ST) 71 and ST 68 (P=0.09). icaA was detected in 77.9% (109/140) of isolates and icaD was detected in 75.7% (106/140) of isolates. Scanning electron microscopic evaluation of S. pseudintermedius biofilm production revealed aggregates of cocci and irregularly produced extracellular polymeric matrix.ConclusionThe majority of S. pseudintermedius isolates evaluated in this study were able to produce biofilm and this may be an important virulence factor in the rapid emergence of this bacterium in veterinary hospitals worldwide. Further study into the mechanisms of biofilm formation by S. pseudintermedius is warranted.

Prevalence and molecular characterization of Clostridium difficile isolated from feedlot beef cattle upon arrival and mid-feeding period

BackgroundThe presence of indistinguishable strains of Clostridium difficile in humans, food animals and food, as well as the apparent emergence of the food-animal-associated ribotype 078/toxinotype V as a cause of community-associated C. difficile infection have created concerns about the potential for foodborne infection. While studies have reported C. difficile in calves, studies of cattle closer to the age of harvest are required. Four commercial feedlots in Alberta (Canada) were enrolled for this study. Fecal samples were collected at the time of arrival and after acclimation (< 62, 62-71 or > 71 days on feed). Selective culture for Clostridium difficile was performed, and isolates were characterized by ribotyping and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. A logistic regression model was built to investigate the effect of exposure to antimicrobial drugs on the presence of C. difficile.ResultsClostridium difficile was isolated from 18 of 539 animals at the time of feedlot arrival (CI = 2.3-6.1) and from 18 of 335 cattle at mid-feeding period (CI = 2.9-13.1). Overall, there was no significant difference in the prevalence of C. difficile shedding on arrival versus mid-feeding period (P = 0.47). No association between shedding of the bacterium and antimicrobial administration was found (P = 0.33). All the isolates recovered were ribotype 078, a toxinotype V strain with genes encoding toxins A, B and CDT. In addition, all strains were classified as NAP7 by pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and had the characteristic 39 base pairs deletion and upstream truncating mutation on the tcdC gene.ConclusionsIt is apparent that C. difficile is carried in the intestinal tracts of a small percentage of feedlot cattle arriving and later in the feeding period and that ribotype 078/NAP7 is the dominant strain in these animals. Herd management practices associated with C. difficile shedding were not identified, however further studies of the potential role of antimicrobials on C. difficile acquisition and shedding are required.

Evaluation of minocycline susceptibility of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus pseudintermedius

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus pseudintermedius (MRSP) is an increasingly important cause of opportunistic infections in dogs and cats. Treatment options are often limited because of the high level of antimicrobial resistance. Doxycycline resistance is common, but variable mechanisms of doxycycline resistance exist, with some conferring resistance to doxycycline but not minocycline. However, there has been limited study of minocycline susceptibility in clinical MRSP isolates nor has the association of susceptibility and clonal complex been clearly established. The objective of this study was to evaluate the susceptibility of MRSP to tetracycline, doxycycline and minocycline, to determine the prevalence of tet(M) and tet(K) and to evaluate the impact of strain on minocycline susceptibility. One hundred seven MRSP isolates from dogs from Canada and the US were included; 79 from clinical infections and 28 from colonization sites. Thirty-nine (36%) isolates were susceptible to tetracycline, 41 (38%) to doxycycline and 70 (65%) to minocycline. Two main dru types, dt9a and dt11a, were present. When tetracycline or doxycycline resistant, dru type dt9a and related strains predominantly harboured tet(K) and were susceptible to minocycline. In contrast, dt11a and related strains tended to harbour tet(M), which confers resistance to all three tetracyclines. Minocycline might be a treatment option for some MRSP infections, even those that are doxycycline resistant; however, interpretive breakpoints may need to be re-assessed. Study of the pharmacokinetics and clinical efficacy of minocycline in dogs and cats is warranted.

Methicillin‐Resistant Staphylococcal Contamination of Clothing Worn by Personnel in a Veterinary Teaching Hospital

OBJECTIVE To determine the methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus pseudintermedius (MRSP) contamination rate of white coats (WC) and surgical scrubs (SS) worn by personnel at the Ontario Veterinary College Health Sciences Centre (OVCHSC) and to identify risk factors associated with clothing contamination. STUDY DESIGN Cross-sectional study. SAMPLE POPULATION Personnel including clinical faculty, house officers, technicians, and veterinary students working at the OVCHSC. METHODS Electrostatic cloths were used to sample WC and SS of hospital personnel. Samples were tested for MRSA and MRSP and isolates were typed. Participants completed a self-administered questionnaire and data was evaluated for risk factors. RESULTS Of 114 specimens, MRS were isolated from 20 (17.5%), MRSA from 4 (3.5%), and MRSP from 16 (14.0%). Technicians were 9.5× (OR = 0.95, 95% CI: 1.2-∞, P = .03) more likely than students to have clothing contaminated with MRSA. No risk factors were identified for MRSP or for overall MRS contamination. CONCLUSIONS Standard hospital clothing was found to have a high prevalence of MRS contamination in a veterinary teaching hospital and could be a source of hospital-acquired infections.

Detection of Clostridium difficile in Small and Medium-sized Wild Mammals in Southern Ontario, Canada

We sampled 325 small and medium-sized wild mammals in Ontario, Canada in 2007 and 2010 to determine the prevalence and characteristics of Clostridium difficile in wild mammals living in proximity to captive wildlife and livestock. Clostridium difficile was isolated from five of 109 animals (4.6%) on four of 25 farms (16%), but was not isolated from any of the 216 samples from raccoons (Procyon lotor) living on the grounds of the Toronto Zoo. The positive animals included two raccoons from one beef farm, one raccoon from a different beef farm, one raccoon from a swine farm, and a shrew (Blarina brevicauda) from a dairy farm. None had evidence of gastrointestinal disease. Three of the five isolates were toxinotype variants (II, IV, and XIII) that are rarely identified in humans and domestic animals. The other two were toxinotype 0, a common toxinotype in humans and animals; however, all five isolates were of different ribotypes. None of the recovered ribotypes were recognized as ribotypes present in the authors’ reference library of over 3,000 human and domestic animal C. difficile isolates. Neither the public health nor the animal health relevance of these findings is clear. It is not known whether C. difficile is a pathogen of small and medium-sized wild mammals, although the susceptibility of various laboratory species suggests it could cause disease.

Prevalence and molecular characterization of Clostridium difficile isolated from European Barn Swallows (Hirundo rustica) during migration

BackgroundClostridium difficile is an important bacterial pathogen of humans and a variety of animal species. Birds, especially migratory passerine species, can play a role in the spread of many pathogens, including Clostridium difficile. Barn Swallows (Hirundo rustica) nest in close proximity to human habitats and their biology is closely associated with cattle farming. Therefore, we hypothesized that Barn Swallows can be the reservoir of Clostridium difficile.ResultsBarn Swallows (n = 175) were captured on their autumn migration across Europe to sub-Saharan Africa. Droppings were collected from juvenile (n = 152) and adult birds (n = 23). Overall prevalence of Clostridium difficile was 4% (7/175); 4.6% (7/152) in juvenile birds and 0/23 in adults. Clostridium difficile ribotypes 078, 002 and 014 were identified, which are commonly found in farm animals and humans. Three new Clostridium difficile ribotypes were also identified: SB3, SB159 and SB166, one of which was toxigenic, harbouring genes for toxins A and B.ConclusionsResults of this study indicate that Barn Swallows might play a role in national and international dissemination of Clostridium difficile and could serve as a source for human and animal infection. Clostridium difficile ribotype 078 was identified, which has been reported as an emerging cause of community-associated Clostridium difficile infection in humans. Based on this and other studies, however, it is more likely that Barn Swallows have a more indicative than perpetuating role in Clostridium difficile epidemiology.

Association between methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus pseudintermedius carriage and the development of surgical site infections following tibial plateau leveling osteotomy in dogs

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the association between preoperative carriage of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus pseudintermedius (MRSP) and the development of surgical site infections (SSIs) following tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO) in dogs. DESIGN Prospective multicenter study. ANIMALS 549 dogs. PROCEDURES At 7 veterinary hospitals, swab specimens were obtained from the pharynx, nares, rectum, and skin of dogs admitted for TPLO. Specimens were submitted for culture of MRSP. For each dog, information regarding preoperative and postoperative antimicrobial administration, comorbidities, contact with other dogs, and whether the dog developed an SSI was obtained. Univariable and multivariable analyses were performed to identify variables associated with preoperative and postoperative MRSP colonization and the development of an SSI. RESULTS Of the 549 study dogs, 24 (4.4%) were identified as MRSP carriers before TPLO and 37 (6.7%) developed an SSI after TPLO. Bacteriologic culture was performed on specimens obtained from 32 of the 37 SSIs, and MRSP was isolated from 11 (34%). Carriers of MRSP (OR, 6.72; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.12 to 21.4) and Bulldogs (OR, 11.1; 95% CI, 2.07 to 59.3) were at risk for development of an SSI after TPLO, whereas postoperative administration of antimicrobials (OR, 0.36; 95% CI, 0.15 to 0.91) appeared to protect against development of an SSI. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Results indicated that carriage of MRSP were a risk factor for development of an SSI after TPLO and measures to rapidly identify and treat MRSP carriers are warranted. Postoperative administration of antimicrobials protected against development of an SSI after TPLO.