Super germ caused by antibiotics in pig farming
Over the past 50 years, superbugs called methicillin-resistant have emerged in pigs Staphylococcus aureus or short MRSA developed. The causative agent, most likely due to widespread Use of antibiotics in pig farming arose, is now increasingly becoming the cause of, according to a recent study MRSA infections in humans.
researchers of University of Cambridge (England) have shown in a recent study that a highly antibiotic-resistant MRSA strain called CC398 can spread from pigs to humans can. The super germ provides one potential threat to public health the team warned in the specialist journal “eLife“.
A potential threats to human health
In 1960, for the first time, a MRSA infection demonstrated in a human patient. Due to the Antibiotic resistance the infection is much more difficult to treat than other bacterial infections. the World Health Organization WHO considered MRSA as one of the world’s greatest threats to human health.
How does an MRSA infection manifest itself?
Many people carry MRSA pathogens on their skin, for example, but do not develop any symptoms as a result. Only when the bacteria enter the body through wounds or mucous membranes, infectious diseases can be triggered. Possible symptoms include:
MRSA Risk Group
MRSA is one of those typical hospital germs. People who are treated as inpatients in a hospital, live in a nursing home or are dependent on dialysis are therefore particularly at risk.
Affected people too Diabetespeople with weakened immune systems, the elderly and infants have one increased risk of severe MRSA infections.
Antibiotic resistance developed in pig farming
Strains of Staphylococcus bacteria labeled CC398 are characterized by a particularly high resistance to antibiotics. The bacterial strain has evolved in pigs kept as livestock over the past five decades.
The working group at the University of Cambridge has now been able to prove that the resistant bacteria are also developing adapt to humans can and thereby acquired in the pigs retain antibiotic resistance.
The study results highlight the potential threat this MRSA strain poses to public health. The research team reports an increasing number of MRSA infections in humans – regardless of whether those affected have had contact with infected pigs.
“The historically high use of antibiotics may have led to the development of this highly antibiotic-resistant strain of MRSA on pig farms”confirms study co-author Dr. A.S. Gemma Murray.
Extremely stable antibiotic resistance in MRSA
“We found that antibiotic resistance in MRSA in livestock is extremely stable – it has persisted for several decades and also during the spread of the bacterium to different livestock species”emphasizes the scientist.
Antibiotic reduction cannot stop MRSA spread
It is true that the use of antibiotics in European livestock farming has fallen sharply in recent years because the Resistance at CC398 but very stable is got the decline limited impact on dissemination this MRSA strain.
Dramatic spread of MRSA within ten years
The CC398 strain is now found in a variety of livestock, but most commonly in pigs. According to the research team, the increase is particularly dramatic in pig farms from Denmark.
In 2008, less than five percent of herds were positive for CC398 on Danish pig farms. In 2018, this proportion was up 90 percent up. The bacteria can spread unnoticed among the pigs because they do not cause disease in the animals.
In humans, however, MRSA can cause serious infectious diseases, in part because the bacteria from the CC398 strain are able to to bypass the human immune system.
“Understanding the occurrence of CC398 in European livestock – and its ability to infect humans – is critical to addressing the risk it poses to public health”study lead author emphasizes dr Lucy Weinert out.
The evolutionary history of MRSA is examined
As part of the study, the team reconstructed the evolutionary history of certain genetic elements in MRSA that caused the bacterium to become antibiotic resistant and that this resistance stable for decades stayed.
Another genetic element labeled φSa3 according to the researchers, ensures that CC398 can evade the human immune system. However, this element has been fluctuating over the past few years, suggesting that the bacteria rapidly adapt to human hosts be able.
“While human MRSA cases associated with farm animals represent only a small fraction of all MRSA cases in the human population, the fact that they are increasing is a worrying sign”, sums up Weinert. (vb)
Author and source information
This text corresponds to the specifications of medical specialist literature, medical guidelines and current studies and has been checked by medical professionals.
Author:
Graduate editor (FH) Volker Blasek
Sources:
- Gemma Murray , Xiaoliang Ba, Lucy A Weinert, et al.: Stable antibiotic resistance and rapid human adaptation in livestock-associated MRSA; in: eLife (2022), elifesciences.org
- University of Cambridge: Highly antibiotic-resistant strain of MRSA that arose in pigs can jump to humans (veröffentlicht: 28.06.2022), cam.ac.uk
- Federal Center for Health Education: MRSA pathogen profile (status: April 24th, 2018), infektionsschutz.de
Important NOTE:
This article contains general advice only and should not be used for self-diagnosis or treatment. He can not substitute a visit at the doctor.