Your healthy pets could be passing on multidrug-resistant organisms, new research finds.
Humans could also be transmitting these harmful microbes to their pets.
Samples were taken from more than 28,000 pets whose owners had been hospitalised. Of these pets, 5% of cats tested positive for at least one multidrug-resistant organism.
The study was led by Dr Carolin Hackmann from Charité University Hospital Berlin, Germany and her team.
She says: “Our findings verify that the sharing of multidrug-resistant organisms between companion animals and their owners is possible.”
Like humans, pets can become infected with bacteria that are resistant to multiple antibiotics – otherwise known as multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs).
Antimcrobial-resistant infections are a growing health concern in our society and it is estimated that they are responsible for nearly 1.3 million deaths worldwide in 2019.
“Although the level of sharing between hospital patients and their pets in our study is very low, carriers can shed bacteria into their environment for months, and they can be a source of infection for other more vulnerable people in hospital such as those with a weak immune system and the very young or old,” Hackman adds.
My pet has just been diagnosed with an antimicrobial-resistant infection: what do I need to know?
- Regularly wash your hands after touching your pet, and make sure all their toys and bowls are clean. This will help prevent the spread of infection.
- Antimicrobial resistant infections can take longer to treat so it’s important to be patient.
- Additional tests may need to be carried out by your vet to ensure the correct medication is prescribed.
Vets – remember to pass this information onto your clients!
Want to speak to a member of our team? Get in touch today via [email protected] and we’ll help you with your career move!
Your healthy pets could be passing on multidrug-resistant organisms, new research finds.
Humans could also be transmitting these harmful microbes to their pets.
Samples were taken from more than 28,000 pets whose owners had been hospitalised. Of these pets, 5% of cats tested positive for at least one multidrug-resistant organism.
The study was led by Dr Carolin Hackmann from Charité University Hospital Berlin, Germany and her team.
She says: “Our findings verify that the sharing of multidrug-resistant organisms between companion animals and their owners is possible.”
Like humans, pets can become infected with bacteria that are resistant to multiple antibiotics – otherwise known as multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs).
Antimcrobial-resistant infections are a growing health concern in our society and it is estimated that they are responsible for nearly 1.3 million deaths worldwide in 2019.
“Although the level of sharing between hospital patients and their pets in our study is very low, carriers can shed bacteria into their environment for months, and they can be a source of infection for other more vulnerable people in hospital such as those with a weak immune system and the very young or old,” Hackman adds.
My pet has just been diagnosed with an antimicrobial-resistant infection: what do I need to know?
- Regularly wash your hands after touching your pet, and make sure all their toys and bowls are clean. This will help prevent the spread of infection.
- Antimicrobial resistant infections can take longer to treat so it’s important to be patient.
- Additional tests may need to be carried out by your vet to ensure the correct medication is prescribed.
Vets – remember to pass this information onto your clients!
Want to speak to a member of our team? Get in touch today via [email protected] and we’ll help you with your career move!