Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a human-adapted bacterium that dogs usually pick up from people. In dogs it causes the same skin, wound and ear infections as susceptible staphylococci, but beta-lactam antibiotics will not work and the choice of other drugs is narrow. It matters for the NAVLE because it combines three tested themes: antimicrobial resistance, antimicrobial stewardship and zoonotic risk in both directions.
Key facts
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) at a glance- Species and system: dog (also cats, horses and people); mainly skin, surgical sites, wounds and ears.
- Cause: S. aureus carrying the mecA gene, which makes it resistant to virtually all beta-lactams; usually multidrug-resistant as well.
- Source: most MRSA in dogs comes from people; dog strains mirror the human strains of the same region.
- Classic presentation: pyoderma or a surgical-site infection that fails to respond to a cephalosporin, in a dog with recent antimicrobials, hospital stays or a household member who works in health care.
- Key tests: cytology to confirm infection, then culture with species identification and susceptibility.
- Zoonotic: yes. Transmission is mostly human to dog, but dogs can pass MRSA back to people.
What's inside
12 sections in the full guide- Key facts
- How the NAVLE tests this
- Cause and pathophysiology
- Clinical signs
- Diagnosis
- Differential diagnoses
- Treatment and management
- Prevention, control and public health
- Prognosis
- Quick review
- Test yourself
- References
The full guide also has 4 tables, 2 figures, 3 self-test questions and 10 references, available to NAVLE members.
Read the full study guide
The full guide is part of every NAVLE plan, with diagnosis and treatment tables, figures, a quick review and self-test questions. Start a free trial to try the question bank, or log in if you are already a member.