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mikrobiologie@vetmed.fu-berlin.de
Introduction:
Monitoring of antimicrobial use (AMU) for cats and dogs will be mandatory in Germany following the EU regulation 2019/6 from 2026 on. In order to assess the impact of changes in AMU we used national laboratory data to establish a status quo of methicillin-resistance rates in Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). Methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) is an important pathogen in human and veterinary medicine, responsible for a variety of infections worldwide.
Materials and Methods:
Laboklin provided data from samples of dogs and cats that they received for analysis within the years 2019–2021 (total: 175,171). Samples came from animals presented at veterinary clinics (total: 3491 clinics) throughout Germany during this 3-year period and were analyzed by the laboratory according to standard procedures. Data provided by the laboratory included the results of bacterial identification and antimicrobial susceptibility testing, in combination with the information on the sample type and patient species. Sample types were assigned to categories. The interpretation (S – I – R) of the MIC was performed according to the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI). Statistical analysis was performed with R version 4.2.2.
Results:
From 2019 to 2021, MRSA, as defined by cefoxitin resistance, was identified in a total of 971 samples, 517 in dogs and 454 in cats. In each of the 3 years, S. aureus was isolated in about 3% of samples and occurred more frequently in dogs (6%) than in cats (2%). The MRSA prevalence was similar in all years but showed up more frequently in dogs (average of 20% of S. aureus isolates) than in cats (average of 15%).
Conclusions:
Within S. aureus the prevalence of MRSA in cats and dogs with an average of 15%–20% was higher than MRSA prevalence in human samples from Germany, as recorded by the national antibiotic resistance surveillance (ARS).1 To ensure treatment effectiveness of antibiotics and to avoid resistance, responsible use of antibiotics is necessary. To evaluate the impact of changes in AMU on the resistance situation, resistance data will also be needed in the future.