Occurrence of Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, and Staphylococcus pseudintermedius colonization among veterinarians in the province of Malaga, Spain

Background and Aim: Staphylococcus pseudintermedius and Staphylococcus aureus are common colonizing pathogens in companion animals. These opportunistic pathogens can cause infections of varying frequency and severity in humans and pets. Studies on Staphylococcus colonization in veterinarians are sca...

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Main Authors: Fernando Fariñas-Guerrero, Antonio J. Villatoro, Eduardo Martinez-Manzanares, Rosa López-Gigosos
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Veterinary World 2024-12-01
Series:Veterinary World
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Online Access:https://www.veterinaryworld.org/Vol.17/December-2024/2.pdf
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author Fernando Fariñas-Guerrero
Antonio J. Villatoro
Eduardo Martinez-Manzanares
Rosa López-Gigosos
author_facet Fernando Fariñas-Guerrero
Antonio J. Villatoro
Eduardo Martinez-Manzanares
Rosa López-Gigosos
author_sort Fernando Fariñas-Guerrero
collection DOAJ
description Background and Aim: Staphylococcus pseudintermedius and Staphylococcus aureus are common colonizing pathogens in companion animals. These opportunistic pathogens can cause infections of varying frequency and severity in humans and pets. Studies on Staphylococcus colonization in veterinarians are scarce. This study aimed to investigate the colonization of the nostrils and hands by S. aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, and S. pseudintermedius among healthy clinical practice veterinarians in the province of Malaga (Spain), with a particular focus on their potential antibiotic resistance. Materials and Methods: A request for voluntary participation was extended to professionals from the Official College of Veterinarians of Malaga. Nasal and hand swabs were collected by two trained technicians in January 2024, and all samples were delivered to the laboratory within 24 h. Gram staining, catalase, oxidase, and coagulase tests were performed. The susceptibility of the isolated bacteria to 11 antibiotics was evaluated. Results: A total of 50 clinical practice veterinarians were enrolled in the study, comprising 36 women and 14 men from 31 veterinary clinics across Málaga province. A total of 32% of the nasal samples yielded S. aureus, whereas 64% were found to contain S. epidermidis. In total, 30% of the hand samples yielded S. aureus and 30% yielded S. epidermidis. The participants did not exhibit any strains of S. pseudintermedius in their nasal samples or hands. Two strains (11.1%) of methicillin-resistant S. aureus were isolated from 18 strains isolated from nostrils. Furthermore, a high prevalence of S. aureus strains resistant to ampicillin (94.4%) and amoxicillin (72.2%) was observed. Conclusion: The colonization profiles of veterinary professionals were similar to those observed in the general population. Further research is required among veterinary professionals, companion animals, and their owners to better understand the colonization processes and the pet-human interface within a “One Health” approach.
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spelling doaj-art-63800123099e4e6f9a8a1065b14dded12024-12-16T13:27:28ZengVeterinary WorldVeterinary World0972-89882231-09162024-12-0117122719272410.14202/vetworld.2024.2719-2724Occurrence of Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, and Staphylococcus pseudintermedius colonization among veterinarians in the province of Malaga, SpainFernando Fariñas-Guerrero0Antonio J. Villatoro1https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3407-0616Eduardo Martinez-Manzanares2https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4227-0960Rosa López-Gigosos3https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5303-3151Institute of Clinical Immunology and Infectious Diseases, 29010 Málaga, Spain; Cátedra One Health. Málaga University and Official College of Veterinarians, 29010 Málaga, Spain.Cátedra One Health. Málaga University and Official College of Veterinarians, 29010 Málaga, Spain; Immune Stem (Immunology and Cell Therapy), 29018, Málaga, Spain.Cátedra One Health. Málaga University and Official College of Veterinarians, 29010 Málaga, Spain; Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Málaga University, 29010, Málaga, Spain.Cátedra One Health. Málaga University and Official College of Veterinarians, 29010 Málaga, Spain; Department of Public Health and Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Málaga University, 29010, Málaga, Spain.Background and Aim: Staphylococcus pseudintermedius and Staphylococcus aureus are common colonizing pathogens in companion animals. These opportunistic pathogens can cause infections of varying frequency and severity in humans and pets. Studies on Staphylococcus colonization in veterinarians are scarce. This study aimed to investigate the colonization of the nostrils and hands by S. aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, and S. pseudintermedius among healthy clinical practice veterinarians in the province of Malaga (Spain), with a particular focus on their potential antibiotic resistance. Materials and Methods: A request for voluntary participation was extended to professionals from the Official College of Veterinarians of Malaga. Nasal and hand swabs were collected by two trained technicians in January 2024, and all samples were delivered to the laboratory within 24 h. Gram staining, catalase, oxidase, and coagulase tests were performed. The susceptibility of the isolated bacteria to 11 antibiotics was evaluated. Results: A total of 50 clinical practice veterinarians were enrolled in the study, comprising 36 women and 14 men from 31 veterinary clinics across Málaga province. A total of 32% of the nasal samples yielded S. aureus, whereas 64% were found to contain S. epidermidis. In total, 30% of the hand samples yielded S. aureus and 30% yielded S. epidermidis. The participants did not exhibit any strains of S. pseudintermedius in their nasal samples or hands. Two strains (11.1%) of methicillin-resistant S. aureus were isolated from 18 strains isolated from nostrils. Furthermore, a high prevalence of S. aureus strains resistant to ampicillin (94.4%) and amoxicillin (72.2%) was observed. Conclusion: The colonization profiles of veterinary professionals were similar to those observed in the general population. Further research is required among veterinary professionals, companion animals, and their owners to better understand the colonization processes and the pet-human interface within a “One Health” approach.https://www.veterinaryworld.org/Vol.17/December-2024/2.pdfantibiotic resistancedrug-resistant staphylococcus aureusone healthseroprevalencestaphylococcus colonizationveterinarians
spellingShingle Fernando Fariñas-Guerrero
Antonio J. Villatoro
Eduardo Martinez-Manzanares
Rosa López-Gigosos
Occurrence of Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, and Staphylococcus pseudintermedius colonization among veterinarians in the province of Malaga, Spain
Veterinary World
antibiotic resistance
drug-resistant staphylococcus aureus
one health
seroprevalence
staphylococcus colonization
veterinarians
title Occurrence of Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, and Staphylococcus pseudintermedius colonization among veterinarians in the province of Malaga, Spain
title_full Occurrence of Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, and Staphylococcus pseudintermedius colonization among veterinarians in the province of Malaga, Spain
title_fullStr Occurrence of Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, and Staphylococcus pseudintermedius colonization among veterinarians in the province of Malaga, Spain
title_full_unstemmed Occurrence of Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, and Staphylococcus pseudintermedius colonization among veterinarians in the province of Malaga, Spain
title_short Occurrence of Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, and Staphylococcus pseudintermedius colonization among veterinarians in the province of Malaga, Spain
title_sort occurrence of staphylococcus aureus staphylococcus epidermidis and staphylococcus pseudintermedius colonization among veterinarians in the province of malaga spain
topic antibiotic resistance
drug-resistant staphylococcus aureus
one health
seroprevalence
staphylococcus colonization
veterinarians
url https://www.veterinaryworld.org/Vol.17/December-2024/2.pdf
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