Coagulase-Positive Staphylococcus: Prevalence and Antimicrobial Resistance

J Am Anim Hosp Assoc. 2015 Nov-Dec;51(6):365-71. doi: 10.5326/JAAHA-MS-6255.

Abstract

Staphylococcus pseudintermedius is the most prevalent coagulase-positive Staphylococcus inhabitant of the skin and mucosa of dogs and cats, causing skin and soft tissue infections in these animals. In this study, coagulase-positive Staphylococcus species were isolated from companion animals, veterinary professionals, and objects from a clinical veterinary environment by using two particular culture media, Baird-Parker RPF agar and CHROMagar Staph aureus. Different morphology features of colonies on the media allowed the identification of the species, which was confirmed by performing a multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Among 23 animals, 15 (65.2%) harbored coagulase-positive Staphylococcus, being 12 Staphylococcus pseudintermedius carriers. Four out of 12 were methicillin-resistant S. pseudintermedius (MRSP). All veterinary professionals had coagulase-positive Staphylococcus (CoPS) species on their hands and two out of nine objects sampled harbored MRSP. The antimicrobial-resistance pattern was achieved for all isolates, revealing the presence of many multidrug-resistant CoPS, particularly S. pseudintermedius . The combined analysis of the antimicrobial-resistance patterns shown by the isolates led to the hypothesis that there is a possible crosscontamination and dissemination of S. aureus and S. pseudintermedius species between the three types of carriers sampled in this study that could facilitate the spread of the methicillin-resistance phenotype.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology*
  • Bacteriological Techniques
  • Carrier State / epidemiology
  • Carrier State / microbiology
  • Carrier State / veterinary
  • Cat Diseases / microbiology*
  • Cats
  • Coagulase / metabolism
  • Dog Diseases / microbiology*
  • Dogs
  • Drug Resistance, Bacterial*
  • Environmental Microbiology
  • Hospitals, Animal
  • Humans
  • Prevalence
  • Staphylococcal Infections / epidemiology
  • Staphylococcal Infections / microbiology
  • Staphylococcal Infections / veterinary*
  • Staphylococcus / classification*
  • Staphylococcus / drug effects
  • Staphylococcus / enzymology

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Coagulase