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Difficulty fighting bacterial infections may be caused by house hold pets. A new study at the University of Missouri in Columbia is looking at the possibility that pets may be a source of resistant bacteria in humans. KSMU's Jana Greer reports.
Antibiotic resistant bacteria are a growing problem in the United States. Doctors are having to prescribe more medicine when common antibiotics don't work. One type of resistant bacteria is known as MRSA and is the focus of the University of Missouri's study. Dr. Stephanie Kottler is a veterinarian at the University of Missouri. She explains what she suspects may be happening between humans and their pets.
MRSA can live in the nose or on the skin of humans and animals and will not produce symptoms until it enters the tissue through a cut or puncture. It can cause life threatening problems such as blood infections and pneumonia. It is commonly found in people who have spent time in the hospital or spend time in large groups such as athletes or prisoners. The MRSA rates have increased dramatically since the 1970s. According to the Centers for Disease Control, in 1974 MRSA infections accounted for two percent of staph infections and in 2004 it accounted for 63 percent. Kottler says that there are still questions about how to react to this problem.
The researchers at the University of Missouri are taking samples from up to 800 pet owners and their pets. From the research they are hoping to find out what the source is for MRSA. Researches are still looking for people and their pets to participate in the study. If you are interested you can call 573-882-7821.
