No reason for health panic

(Guelph, Ontario)Dr. J. Scott Weese of Ontario Veterinary College thinks hog farmers have no reason to panic about their health following the discovery of a high incidence of disease-causing staphylococcus areus bacteria that are resistant to the methicillin antibiotic.

These MRSA bacteria are of concern among medical doctors who have been battling it in hospitals by isolating infected patients and having staff wear masks and gloves when treating those patients and washing their hands thoroughly upon leaving the room.

Weese found MRSA on 45 per cent of Ontarios hog farms and in 25 per cent of the pigs, yet one of the biggest surprises was that one of the highest rates of MRSA was on a farm that doesnt use methicillin or other antibiotics.

Weese also said he needs to conduct further studies to determine whether MRSA is a significant health risk for hog farmers and workers.

The Ontario Pork board has posted a series of questions and answers about MRSA on its website, including ones to allay consumer concerns.

There is no need to avoid pork consumption or worry that pigs could make you sick as a result of MRSA, says the website.

Staphylococcus aureus is a common organism that is part of the natural flora regularly found in nasal passages and on the skin of humans, pigs, poultry, sea mammals, dogs, horses, etc.

Ensuring proper hygiene methods including hand washing, cooking all meats thoroughly before eating and properly cleaning and disinfecting all work surfaces and cooking utensils will help to reduce the risk of any type of bacterial contamination, the website says.

The prevention of MRSA infections is based upon standard infection control and food handling precautions including: Cook all meats thoroughly before eating. Pork should always be cooked to medium 70º C (160ºF). Hand wash after contact with raw meat.

The board counters consumer concern about hog farmers using too many antibiotics by saying several producers have reduced or eliminated the use of antibiotics in their management practices. Many animals colonized with MRSA have not been exposed to antibiotic therapy, and several of these MRSAs might result from human-to-animal transfer.

The board also notes that it is funding MRSA research, including Weeses, which is the first study in North America to identify a link between MRSA in hogs and the people who work with them.