FAQ

Antibiotics are used in animals and humans to control infections caused by bacteria.

MRSA stands for “Meticillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus”.

The Staphylococcus aureus bacterium is found on the skin or in the nose of one in three people. Drug resistant staph – known as MRSA – is generally only found in about one or two per cent of the population. But it kills more people than AIDS

(MRSA is a bacterium, not a virus. MRSA is also known as merca infection, golden staph and mursa infection.

Staphylococcus pseudintermedius (S. pseudintermedius) is a bacterium  commonly found on the skin or in the nose or gut of 50% or more of healthy dogs, and a smaller percentage of healthy cats. Typically it causes no problems at all, but if an animal is injured or becomes sick for another reason, S. pseudintermedius may take advantage of the body’s weakened defences, causing infection and illness.

MRSP stands for methicillin-resistant S. pseudintermedius, which is a form of S. pseudintermedius highly resistant to many antibiotics, including most of the drugs commonly used to treat bacterial infections in dogs and cats.

People and animals who carry MRSP or MRSA without displaying any  signs of infection are said to be  colonised. 

Infection with any of these bacteria may cause disease such as soreness, swelling or pain.  Many infections will resolve themselves without treatment, just as a sore throat in humans will.

E coli is a bacterium commonly found in the intestines of humans and other animals, some strains of which can cause severe food poisoning.

Yes. Most animals are susceptible to resistant infections. Bacterial resistance or antimicrobial resistance is the most common and is prevalent worldwide. Therefore it is imperative that bacterial infections are specifically identified and that the antibiotic used is specifically for that infection.  It is the bacteria  which are resistant, not the infected animal or person.

a. Not all staphylococcal infections are resistant. Staphylococcus pseudintermedius can be found on most dogs and is part of their healthy skin bacteria. If other diseases occur, such as for example allergies, hormonal disorders or parasite infestations, these bacteria may cause infection. Such infections can be problematic for the dog but the bacteria involved cannot be eradicated from the house, nor do they need to be, as they are carried even by healthy dogs and pose little threat to humans. However, if the multidrug-resistant versions MRSA or MRSP are involved, thorough hygiene measures should be taken in connection with appropriate treatment prescribed by your vet.

b. Regular cleaning with antibacterial household cleaners will help to reduce resistant bacteria on  floors and other surfaces in the house. In addition, frequent and thorough hand washing and prompt disposal of dirty bandages are important. While your pets are infected, it may help to keep them confined to areas in the house which are easy to clean, e.g. utility rooms or tiled hallways, rather than in carpeted rooms.

The use of an appropriate antibiotic  will usually cure an infection. However, there are some circumstances in which additional action may be required to ensure a permanent cure.  This is particularly the case when an implant such as a bone plate or pin has been used. The presence of such an implant can make it extremely difficult for the bone to heal properly and in those circumstances, the removal of the implant may be necessary.

The development by a disease-causing microbe, through mutation or gene transfer, of the ability to survive exposure to an antimicrobial agent which was previously an effective treatment.

Once an animal is infected there is no difference in the way in which it will be treated. The terms refer only to how and where the animal caught the infection.

It is not always easy to work out the exact origin of a resistant infection. What is important is to get a confirmed diagnosis from your vet. Then take the relevant precautions and cleaning advice as detailed in answer 4b.

a. Prevention is better than cure, Video – person saying this. Click on link for more….

b. Healthy pets have a greater capacity for fighting off infections as they have a stronger immune system. Diseases can also be spread from pets to people in a variety of ways –  see what you can do to prevent disease through a few simple measures. Take the following steps to prevent diseases: Read more

The risk is minimal if you keep your pet fit and healthy. Click on the link to see how: Read more

Infections can generally be treated successfully with a single course of antibiotics, which may come in the form of creams or ointments, injections, or tablets. Many infections will resolve themselves without antibiotics, but there are increasing numbers of bacteria which are much more difficult to treat because they are able to resist different types of antibiotics. Therefore, when an infection is suspected, it is important to identify the risk it poses and, if significant, the nature of the infection and the drug-sensitivity of the bacteria concerned. It is recommended that infections are analysed by a laboratory to ensure that the correct antibiotic is given. Always discuss the use of antibiotics with your vet.

It is recommended that infections are analysed by a laboratory to ensure that the correct antibiotic is given. Although it may be an initial expense the treatment provided is more likely to be effective and so it may save money in the long term and, more important, help your pet to recover more rapidly with less suffering. 

There is a lot of advice for vets on this website under the vet section. If your vet needs some in depth support they can contact one of our clinical advisors. Click here

Go to keeping your pet healthy in the pet section – click here

Following the hand hygiene washing advice will ensure that you are optimising the prevention of contamination - Read more

Regular cleaning of floors and other surfaces with antibacterial household cleaners will help to reduce resistant infections such as MRSA/MRSP. Read more from answer 4b.

Any use of an antibiotic runs the risk of causing resistance in the bacteria being treated as well as in other bacteria in the same environment.  That is why it is so important only to use antibiotics which only kill the target bacteria and to use them for as short a time as possible to decrease the risk of resistance being induced.

Talk to your vet about your concerns, especially if your pet is to undergo surgery. Avoid the animal spending any longer than necessary in a veterinary hospital and do not allow your pet to be exposed to known carriers of MRSA. People at the highest risk are those who work in medical, dental and veterinary environments where the likelihood of resistant infections being present is greatest.

There are conditions which may require a longer course of antibiotics than we might usually expect, but we can ask a vet to explain and justify the reasons for their decision. If antibiotics need to be repeated, ask the vet to explain why these did not work previously. If antibiotics are needed to treat an infected skin disease, ask what effect this will have on our pet's immune system. We also need the vet to take steps that will help to boost our pet's immune system.

Ask what antibiotic cover your pet is likely to need prior to surgery and what bacteria these antibiotics will kill. Ask what steps are taken to minimise the possibility of an infection. Ask how your pet will be monitored after the operation and whether or not the wound will be dressed . Ask what signs will tell the vet that an infection is present in the operation wound and what action will be taken if one should occur. Ask what the normal recovery period is and what signs might indicate a post-operative infection.

Ask what procedures your vet uses to minimise the possibility of post-operative infection. Are practice staff trained in infection control and barrier nursing, and who has validated the training?

Don't wait! If your pet has had an operation but is not recovering as expected, TELL YOUR VET. Ask for a clear indication of what they think might be the problem and how they will deal with it. Ask for swabs to be taken for culture immediately and don't be fobbed off with any explanation which does not clearly explain what imay be  going on. Ask your vet to be honest about what they do or do not know, and do not encourage them to tell you only what they think you want to hear.

These are just some of the things you can ask; many more may occur to you. The important thing is BE INFORMED and do not be afraid to let your vet know that is what you want.