May 7, 2008

Tests find MRSA in 28 German pig farms
 

The Methicilin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) bacteria have been found to be prevalent in German farm pigs, German health officials said this week.

About 40 pig farms in North Rhine Westphalia were checked for MRSA presence, with 28 farms and 70 percent of their pigs tested positive. The infected pigs, however, were healthy.

The tests follow the discovery of how widespread MRSA was in Dutch pig farms in 2003. Similar tests were conducted in the UK, Canada and Belgium.

German federal health officials are advising consumers to cook pork thoroughly to avoid possible infections.

MRSA is a hospital-associated bacterium that is resistant to most antibiotics.

About 35,000 patients catch the bacteria each year in German hospitals, killing approximately 1,500 of them, according to a PlusMinus documentary on MRSA, which is to be broadcasted this week in Germany.

The documentary also said 39 of 122 farm workers in one sample had caught the resistant form, possibly from the pigs.