MRSA Jumps From Humans To Pets And Back

MRSA, the drug-resistant germ, is a growing problem for owners of pets and for the pets themselves.

An increasing number of infections are turning up in cats and dogs, which is causing big concern among veterinarians.

But an even bigger concern is that the infection can jump to their human owners.

"We are looking at dogs and cats for being a source," said Dr. Andrew Kaplan, a veterinarian who practices on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. "What's been found," he said, "is it's much more likely that people give it to their dogs and then dogs and cats act as reservoirs then return it to people. So there have been instances where people have been treated successfully for a MRSA infection only to get it again; then they're treated, then they get it again."

Experts aren't recommending routine testing of pets and their humans but if your pet does have a wound that is not getting better after being treated with antibiotics, testing might be called for. The same goes for humans; a wound that's not responding to treatment, needs to get checked out.

"We also think about culturing dogs and cats if there are high risk people in the home," said Kaplan. "A high risk person," he explained, "would be someone whose immune system might not be functioning properly; someone who is imuno-suppressed, someone who is HIV positive, for instance."

"As I sit here," said Dr. Kaplan, "I might have MRSA on my skin, because I'm in contact with people and dogs and cats every day. I'm not going to get an infection because I have no break in my skin and my immune system is functioning properly."

What to do about protection. " The mere presence of it on your skin," said Dr. Kaplan, "doesn't mean you're going to get an infection. You can wash it off, that's where hygiene comes in."

"Wash your hands well between touching your dog and cat," Dr. Kaplan cautioned. " Don't let your dog or cat lick your face. Same thing for your children. If they do lick you, wash your face right away. Even go so far as to clean their food bowls in sinks other than the ones you use to prepare your food.

"We're all going to be touching our pets, we're all going to be still letting the dog lick our face but just be more diligent."

So touch your pets but then don't put your hands in your mouth. Pay attention to washing on a regular basis.

"If there happens to be MRSA on your skin," explained Dr. Kaplan, " and you wash two or three times a day, you're going to be keeping the numbers down, you might even be eliminating it.

And again, pay attention to any break in the skin on your or your pet. Treat it with antibiotic. If it doesn't appear to be healing, consult your regular doctor or veterinarian about having the would cultured for staph.