03 | 31 | 2008 Posted By Regan Zambri & Long

MRSA Transmission Between People and Cats? First Documented Instance Reported by NEJM.

It has previously been documented that humans and dogs can infect one another with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), but it now appears that humans and cats can spread the virulent bacteria back and forth between one another, as well.  What may be the first documented instance of such transmission has been reported in a recent edition of the New England Journal of Medicine. 

Doctors at the Bavarian Food and Health Safety Authority in Germany have reported that feline-human transmission of MRSA was a critical component of at least one perplexing and recurrent infection.  Those physicians initially became intrigued by one patient's multiple treatments for MRSA after she repeatedly returned with the same infection.  Ultimately, they discovered that the  family cat was harboring the dangerous bacteria.  Once that cat was successfully treated for MRSA infection by a veterinarian, the woman's MRSA infection successfully responded to treatment and no subsequent infections arose.  The cat never exhibited symptoms of infection, and researchers believe that the female patient in this case probably infected the cat with MRSA first.

Public health experts estimate that 25% - 35% of Americans are colonized with staph bacteria.  Approximately 1% are colonized with MRSA.  Most MRSA infections currently occur in medical settings such as hospitals or nursing homes, although the number of community-acquired infections is on the rise.

Authors of the journal article explain that cats like to rub against people and that the skin-to-skin contact facilitates the spread of MRSA.  They are quick to point out, however, that people should not begin to worry about keeping pets, as they are no more or less likely to harbor the bacteria than people.

If you suspect you might have a MRSA infection, see your physician immediately, and let him or her know if you have other people or pets in your household so that all appropriate treatment or prevention steps may be taken.  While MRSA is difficult to treat, preventing it i as simple as practicing good hygiene and washing your hands frequently. If you know you have a MRSA infection, you should avoid direct contact with other people and animals until you've been treated.

Previously on the DC Metro Area Medical Malpractice Law Blog, we have posted articles related to:

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