Dogs and cats are passing on antibiotic-resistant “superbugs” to their owners, a new study suggests.
A pet in the UK and several in Portugal were found to be carrying similar antibiotic-resistant bacteria to their owners.
In this E. coli and other bacteria associated with pneumonia, scientists say.
They called for families with pets to be included in the program to combat the spread of antimicrobial resistance, which has reached dangerously high levels around the world.
Drug-resistant infections kill an estimated 700,000 people a year worldwide, a number estimated to rise to 10 million by 2050 if no action is taken, with the World Health Organization (WHO) ranking it as the greatest threat to public health. The face of humanity.
Dogs, cats and other pets are already known to contribute to the spread of antibiotic-resistant pathogens that can cause disease in humans. But until now it was unclear whether infected animals were actually sharing the pathogen with their owners.
Fecal samples from dogs, cats and their owners were tested for Enterobacteriaceae resistant to common antibiotics, including E. coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae.
“Owners can reduce the spread of multidrug-resistant bacteria by practicing good hygiene, including hand washing.”
(PA)
Experts are particularly focused on bacteria resistant to antibiotics that the WHO considers “most critically important” for human medicine – those used to treat meningitis, pneumonia and sepsis, known as third-generation cephalosporins.
Additionally, they looked for bacteria resistant to carbapenems, used as a last line of defense when others fail.
Menezes, a PhD student at the University of Lisbon, said: “In this study, we provide evidence that bacteria resistant to third-generation cephalosporins, critically important antibiotics, are being transmitted from pets to their owners.
“Dogs and cats can help with the spread and persistence of these bacteria in the community, and it is critical that they be included in antimicrobial resistance assessments.
“Owners can reduce the spread of multidrug-resistant bacteria by practicing good hygiene, including hand washing after picking up their dog or cat’s waste and even after petting them.”
The team studied five cats, 38 dogs and 78 people from 43 households in Portugal. From the UK, seven dogs and eight people from seven families were also selected.
Of the entire cohort, three cats, 21 dogs, and 28 owners tested positive for bacteria resistant to major third-generation cephalosporins.
In eight families, both the animal and the owner were carriers of Enterobacteriaceae. Two houses had cats, six dogs
In six of these homes, the bacterial DNA was the same between the pet and the owner, meaning the disease was passed between the pet and the human.
It remains unclear whether the bacteria was transferred from pets to humans or vice versa.
From the UK team, a dog with E. coli was colonized with a multidrug resistant strain, feeding the most “critically important” end line of defense antibiotics and others.
In Portugal, a dog was found to carry the same bacteria resistant to third-generation cephalosporins.
Another Portuguese dog e. coli strain that promotes antibiotic resistance.
All pets are treated for their conditions. The owners were not ill and left without treatment.
The research will be presented at the European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ECCMID) in Copenhagen, Denmark, between April 15 and 18.
SWNS
Dogs and cats are passing on antibiotic-resistant “superbugs” to their owners, a new study suggests.
A pet in the UK and several in Portugal were found to be carrying similar antibiotic-resistant bacteria to their owners.
In this E. coli and other bacteria associated with pneumonia, scientists say.
They called for families with pets to be included in the program to combat the spread of antimicrobial resistance, which has reached dangerously high levels around the world.
Drug-resistant infections kill an estimated 700,000 people a year worldwide, a number estimated to rise to 10 million by 2050 if no action is taken, with the World Health Organization (WHO) ranking it as the greatest threat to public health. The face of humanity.
Dogs, cats and other pets are already known to contribute to the spread of antibiotic-resistant pathogens that can cause disease in humans. But until now it was unclear whether infected animals were actually sharing the pathogen with their owners.
Fecal samples from dogs, cats and their owners were tested for Enterobacteriaceae resistant to common antibiotics, including E. coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae.
“Owners can reduce the spread of multidrug-resistant bacteria by practicing good hygiene, including hand washing.”
(PA)
Experts are particularly focused on bacteria resistant to antibiotics that the WHO considers “most critically important” for human medicine – those used to treat meningitis, pneumonia and sepsis, known as third-generation cephalosporins.
Additionally, they looked for bacteria resistant to carbapenems, used as a last line of defense when others fail.
Menezes, a PhD student at the University of Lisbon, said: “In this study, we provide evidence that bacteria resistant to third-generation cephalosporins, critically important antibiotics, are being transmitted from pets to their owners.
“Dogs and cats can help with the spread and persistence of these bacteria in the community, and it is crucial that they are included in the assessment of antimicrobial resistance.
“Owners can reduce the spread of multidrug-resistant bacteria by practicing good hygiene, including hand washing after picking up their dog or cat’s waste and even after petting them.”
The team studied five cats, 38 dogs and 78 people from 43 households in Portugal. From the UK, seven dogs and eight people from seven families were also selected.
Of the entire cohort, three cats, 21 dogs, and 28 owners tested positive for bacteria resistant to major third-generation cephalosporins.
In eight families, both the animal and the owner were carriers of Enterobacteriaceae. Two houses had cats, six dogs
In six of these homes, the bacterial DNA was the same between the pet and the owner, meaning the disease was passed between the pet and the human.
It remains unclear whether the bacteria was transferred from pets to humans or vice versa.
From the UK team, a dog with E. coli was colonized with a multidrug resistant strain, feeding the most “critically important” end line of defense antibiotics and others.
In Portugal, a dog was found to carry the same bacteria resistant to third-generation cephalosporins.
Another Portuguese dog e. coli strain that promotes antibiotic resistance.
All pets are treated for their conditions. The owners were not ill and left without treatment.
The research will be presented at the European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ECCMID) in Copenhagen, Denmark, between April 15 and 18.
SWNS