MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus) strain upsurge puts EU on alert:
This article was originally published in Clinica
Executive Summary
Diagnostics suppliers seeking to keep abreast of the evolution of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) should heed warnings from veterinary experts across Europe, following an upsurge in cases of a new strain in animals and its emergence in humans. The ST398 strain, which is being linked primarily to pigs, has shown a significant capacity to infect humans: Belgium, Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands (where it was first reported some two years ago) have reported cases. Around half of Dutch pig farmers are now reportedly testing positive (a prevalence some 1,500 times the population average), while in one region, the strain is said to have been responsible for 80% of all human cases. The upsurge is being linked by some to use of antibiotics in livestock.