Felis ISSN 2398-2950
Meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus pseudintermedius
Synonym(s): MRSP (previously MRSI); MR-S.pseudintermedius (previously MR-S.intermedius), methicillin-resistant S. pseudintermedius
Contributor(s): Anette Loeffler
, Jon Hardy
Introduction
Classification
Taxonomy
- Genus: Staphylococcus
- Family: Micrococcaceae
- Species: pseudintermedius
- Antimicrobial-resistance: carries additional genetic marker mecA for meticillin-resistance and broad β-lactam resistance.
Etymology
- Gk: staphyle- bunch of grapes; coccus- grain or berry; Gk: pseud- like/similar to; Latin: intermedius:-in-between. S. intermedius was first described in 1976 as the main skin pathogen in dogs with characteristics ‘in between’ S. aureus and S. epidermidis; S. pseudintermedius was formerly named S. intermedius. It was first described as a separate species in 2005 when results from molecular analyses became available.
- Meticillin (INN; international non-proprietory name) or Methicillin (USAN; United States adopted names): semisynthetic penicillin introduced for clinical use in 1959 but no longer manufactured today. Marker for broad beta-lactam antibiotic resistance.
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Clinical Effects
Epidemiology
Habitat
- Healthy dogs (and cats):
- Although MRSP may be carried on skin and mucosae, this is considered rare (its meticillin-susceptible counterpart S. pseudintermedius is part of the microflora of most dogs, less frequent in cats, but MRSP is thought to only succeed as a coloniser (microflora) if there is selection pressure from antimicrobial therapy).
- Known staphylococcal carriage sites in dogs: nostrils, oropharynx, mucocutaneous junctions such as the perianal skin, external genitalia, skin (including squames and hair shed into the environment).
- Higher risk of MRSP carriage in animals that have previously suffered from MRSP infection.
- May also inhabit the gastrointestinal tract.
- Infected pets:
- In pus, infected body fluids such as urine, other infection sites.
- MRSP likely carried at skin and mucosal sites during active infection, supported by licking/grooming behavior.
- Environment:
- Nosocomial pathogen (veterinary clinics and veterinary hospitals).
- Dry surfaces for many months (including home environment).
- Adhere to squames and hair shed into the environment.
Lifecycle
- Reproduction by binary fission.
Pathological effects
- Infections involving MRSP show the same pathology as those due to meticillin-susceptible S. pseudintermedius (MSSP). No difference in virulence between MRSP and MSSP.
- Typically skin and ear infections, traumatic and post-surgical wound infections, possibly complicated by implants, suture material and biofilm.
- Any other organs (eg urinary tract, respiratory tract) as for other staphylococci.
- No lasting immunity.
Other Host Effects
- Same as for other Staphylococcus spp. and as for meticillin-susceptible S. pseudintermedius.
- MRSP can colonize skin and mucous membranes of healthy animals and predispose to subsequent MRSP infection.
- Has host-preference (dog) but is not host-specific, ie can contaminate or colonize other host species and cause infection in immune-compromised individuals (opportunistic).
Control
Control via chemotherapies
- All MRSPs are resistant to all beta-lactam antibiotics Resistant bacterial infections, regardless of individual in vitro susceptibilities.
- Topical antibacterial therapy should be used whenever possible Therapeutics: antimicrobial drug Therapeutics: bacterial infection.
- 2-4% chlorhexidine Chlorhexidine preparations and/or fusidic acid Fusidic acid containing creams have good efficacy if owner and pet are compliant.
- When systemic therapy is indicated, antibacterial selection should always be based on susceptibility test results.
- If no susceptibilities identified, extended testing may be discussed with the laboratory.
Vaccination
- None commercially available.
Other countermeasures
- For known MRSP patients: Barrier nursing or isolation:
- Outpatients should be booked in for last appointment of the day.
- Waiting and walking in the practice should be minimized.
- Cleaning and disinfection of used rooms and equipment before next patient.
- Personal hygiene: protective clothing and hand hygiene.
- Prevent spread of MRSP from unknown carriers or infected patients:
- As for other multidrug-resistant or contagious pathogens.
- Frequent and correct hand washing is the single most effective measure to prevent spread within veterinary surgeries.
- Cleaning will remove 90% of bacterial pathogens.
- Disinfection will not replace cleaning.
- MRSP can be killed effectively with biocides recommended for staphylococci if used according to manufacturer’s instructions.
- Inform owner and in-contact people (staff) of zoonotic potential. Immuno-compromised people may want to seek advice from their general practitioner/physician.
Diagnosis
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Further Reading
Publications
Refereed Papers
- Recent references from VetMed Resource and PubMed.
- Morris D O, Loeffler A, Davis M F, Guardabassi L, Weese J S (2017) Recommendations for approaches to meticillin-resistant staphylococcal infections of small animals: diagnosis, therapeutic considerations and preventative measures.: Clinical Consensus Guidelines of the World Association for Veterinary Dermatology. Vet Dermatol 28, 304-e369 PubMed.
- Borio S, Colombo S, La Rosa G, De Lucia M, Damborg P, Guardabassi L (2015) Effectiveness of a combined (4% chlorhexidine digluconate shampoo and solution) protocol in MRS and non-MRS canine superficial pyoderma: a randomized, blinded, antibiotic-controlled study. Vet Dermatol 26, 339-344, e72 PubMed.
- Grönthal T, Moodley A, Nykäsenoja S, Junnila J, Guardabassi L, Thomson K, Rantala M (2014) Large outbreak caused by methicillin resistant Staphylococcus pseudintermedius ST71 in a Finnish Veterinary Teaching Hospital--from outbreak control to outbreak prevention. PLoS One 9(10), e110084 PubMed.
- Moodley A, Damborg P, Nielsen S S (2014) Antimicrobial resistance in methicillin susceptible and methicillin resistant Staphylococcus pseudintermedius of canine origin: literature review from 1980 to 2013. Vet Microbiol 171, 337-341 PubMed.
- Beco L, Guaguère E, Lorente Méndez C (2013) Suggested guidelines for using systemic antimicrobials in bacterial skin infections: part 2-- antimicrobial choice, treatment regimens and compliance. Vet Rec 172, 156-160 PubMed.
- Singh A, Walker M, Rousseau J, Monteith G J, Weese J S (2013) Methicillin-resistant staphylococcal contamination of clothing worn by personnel in a veterinary teaching hospital. Vet Surg 42, 643-648 PubMed.
- Bond R, Loeffler A (2012) What's happened to Staphylococcus intermedius? Taxonomic revision and emergence of multi-drug resistance. J Small Anim Pract 53, 147-154 PubMed.
- Feng Y, Tian W, Lin D, Luo Q, Zhou Y, Yang T, Deng Y, Liu Y H, Liu J H (2012) Prevalence and characterization of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus pseudintermedius in pets from South China. Vet Microbiol 160, 517-524 PubMed.
- Frank LA, Loeffler A (2012) Meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus pseudintermedius: clinical challenge and treatment options. Vet Dermatol 23, 283-291 PubMed.
- Walther B, Hermes J, Cuny C, Wieler L H, Vincze S, Abou Elnaga Y, Stamm I, Kopp PA, Kohn B, Witte W, Jansen A, Conraths FJ, Semmler T, Eckmanns T, Lübke-Becker A (2012) Sharing more than friendship--nasal colonization with coagulase-positive staphylococci (CPS) and co-habitation aspects of dogs and their owners. PLoS One 7, e35197 PubMed.
- Weese J S, Faires M C, Frank L A, Reynolds L M, Battisti A (2012) Factors associated with methicillin-resistant versus methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus pseudintermedius infection in dogs. J Am Vet Med Assoc 240, 1450-1455 PubMed.
- Windahl U, Reimegård E, Holst BS, Egenvall A, Fernström L, Fredriksson M, Trowald-Wigh G, Andersson U G (2012) Carriage of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus pseudintermedius in dogs--a longitudinal study. BMC Vet Res 8, 34 PubMed.
- Paul N C, Moodley A, Ghibaudo G, Guardabassi L (2011) Carriage of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus pseudintermedius in small animal veterinarians: indirect evidence of zoonotic transmission. Zoonoses Public Health 58, 533-539 PubMed.
- Soedarmanto I, Kanbar T, Ülbegi-Mohyla H, Hijazin M, Alber J, Lämmler C, Akineden Ö, Weiss R, Moritz A, Zschöck M (2011) Genetic relatedness of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus pseudintermedius (MRSP) isolated from a dog and the dog owner. Res Vet Sci 91, e25-27 PubMed.
- van Duijkeren E, Catry B, Greko C, Moreno MA, Pomba MC, Pyörälä S, Ruzauskas M, Sanders P, Threlfall E J, Torren-Edo J, Törneke K; Scientific Advisory Group on Antimicrobials (SAGAM)(2011) Review on methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus pseudintermedius. J Antimicrob Chemother 66, 2705-2714 PubMed.
- Loeffler A, Linek M, Moodley A, Guardabassi L, Sung J M, Winkler M, Weiss R, Lloyd DH (2007) First report of multi-resistant, mecA-positive Staphylococcus intermedius in Europe: 12 cases from a veterinary dermatology referral clinic in Germany. Vet Dermatol 18, 412-421 PubMed.