March 16, 2007

More research needed for MRSA bacteria
 

Research to the so-called MRSA bacteria in the Netherlands should not only be carried out in pig industry, but in all other sectors of livestock industry as well.

Dutch microbiologist Sander Leenders suggested this after the finding of the Methicillin Resistant Streptococcus Aureus (MRSA) bacteria in a 60-year old Dutch poultry farmer and in five other adults from two more poultry farms.

Last year, the MRSA bacteria, also known as 'hospital bacteria' became a problem in the Netherlands, as the bacteria could seriously affect already weakened hospital patients - even resulting in death.

Recent research revealed that the bacteria was found in about 40 percent of the pigs as well, after which more research was announced to investigate the exact relationship between pigs and the highly infectious bacteria.

According to Leenders, whose discovery was published in Infectieziektenbulletin  by The Netherlands Health Care Inspectorate, this research should be broadened to all sectors of animal husbandry, in order to get a total picture.

Leeners said it is significant to know the source of the bacteria and to what animals do they exist.