MRSA spreading by air from pig farms

We get further confirmation today of the spread of so-called LA-MRSA or "pig" MRSA, usually MRSA st398 or cc398, by air from pig farms.

Full abstract and report available here

June 2012

LA-MRSA contamination of air and soil surfaces in the vicinity of pig barns: A longitudinal study

1. ¹Institute for Animal Hygiene, Animal Welfare and Farm Animal Behaviour, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Bünteweg 17p, 30559 Hannover, Germany
2. ²Institute for Animal Hygiene and Environmental Health, Free University Berlin, Philippstrasse 13, 10115 Berlin, Germany
3. ³Chemisches und Veterinäruntersuchungsamt Ostwestfalen-Lippe, Westerfeldstraße 1, 32758 Detmold, Germany
4. ⁴Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Diedersdorfer Weg 1, 12277 Berlin, Germany

ABSTRACT

During one year, samples were taken on four days, one in each season, from pigs, the floor, and the air inside of pig barns and from the ambient air and soil at different distances outside of six commercial LA-MRSA positive pig barns in the north of Germany... 

... Spa typing was used to confirm identity of LA-MRSA types found inside and outside the barns. The results show that there is regular airborne LA-MRSA transmission and deposition up to at least 300 m around positive pig barns which is strongly influenced by wind direction and season. The described boot sampling method seems suitable to characterise the contamination of the vicinity of LA-MRSA positive pig barns by the airborne route.