For Immediate Release
Nov. 2007
Contact: Karlene Belyea, Executive Director
517-347-4710
MRSA infections can be transmitted to pets
Pet owners can play a role in identifying outbreaks of Methicillin Resistant
Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) by bringing animals with rashes and other skin irritations to
veterinarians to be tested.
“If pets contract MRSA, it is usually from contact with an infected person in the same
household,” says Dr. Paul Bloom, member of the Michigan Veterinary Medical Association
and veterinary dermatologist at the Allergy, Skin and Ear Clinic for Pets in Livonia. “If a pet has
a MRSA infection, its owner should see a physician.”
The MRSA bacteria is much less common in cats and dogs than Staphylococcus
intermedius which can be treated with standard antibiotics. While the majority of staph
infections occur within hospital or institutional settings, especially among people with weakened
immune systems, the recent rash of community-acquired MRSA has motivated veterinarians to
be more conscious of the problem.
“If you live in a school district that has had MRSA and your pet gets a new rash, that
should be checked out,” says Karlene Belyea, executive director of the MVMA. “A positive
test by a veterinarian would mean a person in the household has MRSA.”
According to Bloom, there are a number of key steps to protecting families from the risks
of MRSA infection:
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1. Prevention: Everyone should be careful to wash their hands regularly and clean gym
equipment before and after use.
2. Awareness: It is important to get a pet’s rashes checked out by a veterinarian. While
they have many other potential causes, rashes and skin-ailments may be an indication
of a bacterial skin infection.
3. Action: Contact a physician and a veterinarian after a potential exposure. If a pet or a
person is infected, everyone in the family should be checked out.
“There is no reason to overreact to the problem of MRSA,” Dr. Bloom says, “but we can
think of animals as sentries that indicate where the bacteria is present in the human population.”
MVMA is comprised of more than 2,000 Michigan veterinarians. It provides continuing
education for veterinary professionals, monitors state legislation and regulations and promotes
veterinary medicine through a multifaceted public education program.
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