Effect of a disinfectant powder on methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in pigs, bedding and air samples under simulated farm conditions

TY - JOUR

T1 - Effect of a disinfectant powder on methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in pigs, bedding and air samples under simulated farm conditions

AU - Gongora, Carmen Espinosa

AU - Damborg, Peter Panduro

AU - Nielsen, Søren Saxmose

AU - Gibbs, S.

AU - Guardabassi, Luca

PY - 2013

Y1 - 2013

N2 - Livestock-associated methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (LA-MRSA) is an emerging zoonotic agent that can be transmitted to people exposed to contaminated farms. This study was performed to evaluate the efficacy of a commercial farm disinfectant in reducing LA-MRSA contamination under controlled conditions. Treatment and control group were both composed by pigs naturally colonized with LA-MRSA. The animals were housed for 37 days in two separate farm-style chambers (Danbox Danmark ApS) designed for evaluation of farm decontamination technologies. The treatment group received seven applications of the disinfectant. MRSA load was measured in samples from pigs, bedding material and air and analysed statistically. While pigs remained positive with variable MRSA counts, the amount of MRSA in the air and bedding material increased significantly during the first week and then was gradually reduced in both groups. MRSA couldn’t be isolated from air and bedding material in the treatment group after seven applications and the load of MRSA increased immediately after discontinuation of treatment. This study suggests that this type of disinfectant is not able to eradicate LA-MRSA from animals but continued application might reduce the load of LA-MRSA in the farm environment and ultimately to minimize the risk of zoonotic transmission.

AB - Livestock-associated methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (LA-MRSA) is an emerging zoonotic agent that can be transmitted to people exposed to contaminated farms. This study was performed to evaluate the efficacy of a commercial farm disinfectant in reducing LA-MRSA contamination under controlled conditions. Treatment and control group were both composed by pigs naturally colonized with LA-MRSA. The animals were housed for 37 days in two separate farm-style chambers (Danbox Danmark ApS) designed for evaluation of farm decontamination technologies. The treatment group received seven applications of the disinfectant. MRSA load was measured in samples from pigs, bedding material and air and analysed statistically. While pigs remained positive with variable MRSA counts, the amount of MRSA in the air and bedding material increased significantly during the first week and then was gradually reduced in both groups. MRSA couldn’t be isolated from air and bedding material in the treatment group after seven applications and the load of MRSA increased immediately after discontinuation of treatment. This study suggests that this type of disinfectant is not able to eradicate LA-MRSA from animals but continued application might reduce the load of LA-MRSA in the farm environment and ultimately to minimize the risk of zoonotic transmission.

M3 - Journal article

SN - 1352-9749

VL - 68

SP - 13

EP - 18

JO - The Pig Journal

JF - The Pig Journal

ER -