tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6483019915352061873.post8568994676201631015..comments2010-08-02T12:01:08.490-05:00Maryn McKennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16695106217486522993noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6483019915352061873.post-63389455354207188442010-08-02T12:01:08.490-05:002010-08-02T12:01:08.490-05:00This is indeed a regrettable event, but this blog (and particularly the title) is both erroneous and misleading. Firstly, the ST398 strain was NOT MRSA, but METHICILLIN SUSCEPTIBLE Staph aureus which was susceptible to all antibiotics tested except macrolides. Secondly, there is no evidence that exposure to pigs played any role in the case. Although pigs were first identified as a reservoir of ST398 MRSA, these strains are not limited to pigs, nor to livestock and the source of this infection is not yet known<br /><br />Indeed, the t571 subtype of ST398 isolated is relatively uncommon in pigs in Europe, but was found to be common among two communities originating from the Dominican Republic, in Manhattan, NY and in the Dominican Republic (see http://www.cdc.gov/eid/content/15/2/pdfs/08-0609.pdf). MRSA isolates from pigs have uniformly been tetracycline resistant and PVL negative, unlike that from the reported case<br /><br />As far as I am aware, there is yet to be a fatal case of ST398 MRSA infection reported, although pig industry workers in much of Europe and some other countries have apparently been commonly exposed to these organisms for several years.<br /><br />Peter Davies BVSc<br />College of Veterinary Medicine<br />University of Minnesota, USAPeter Daviesnoreply@blogger.com