First report of multiresistant,mecA‐positiveStaphylococcus intermediusin Europe: 12 cases from a veterinary dermatology referral clinic in Germany

Abstract

Resistance to cephalosporins and/or fluoroquinolones by Staphylococcus intermedius has remained low in Europe, with effective drugs generally available for systemic therapy in pets. However, multiresistant, mecA-positive S. intermedius isolated from dogs and cats is now emerging in Europe. Twelve S. intermedius isolates, highly resistant to at least five antimicrobial classes, were isolated from skin and ear infections in 11 dogs and a cat. The 12 isolates represented 23% of all S. intermedius submissions from one veterinary dermatology referral clinic in northern Germany to veterinary diagnostic laboratories during an 18-month period and resistance included cefalexin, methicillin and enrofloxacin. The animals had been referred to the clinic with recurrent superficial pyoderma, deep pyoderma, pododermatitis or chronic otitis, all unresponsive to systemic beta-lactam-antibiotics or fluoroquinolones. Infection resolved in 10 dogs and the cat on a combination of antimicrobial treatment and correction of underlying causes. Four dogs and a cat required systemic and topical therapy; in six dogs topical antimicrobial therapy alone was successful. Phenotypic and genotypic characteristics of the S. intermedius isolates were determined; species identification was confirmed by polymerase chain detection of thermonuclease genes (nuc) and the presence and expression of the gene conferring resistance to all beta-lactam antibiotics (mecA) were demonstrated in all; based on pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, six were indistinguishable, the others closely or possibly related. The emergence of multiresistant, mecA-positive S. intermedius in Europe is alarming. Zoonotic implications, awareness among veterinary laboratories and strategies for the use of antimicrobials in small animal practice need to be considered.

Antibiotic resistance of canine Staphylococcus intermedius group (SIG) - practical implications

“…Only one of 23 of the examined strains was resistant to chloramphenicol and all were susceptible to mupirocin. This is in agreement with observations of other authors (Loeffler et al 2007, Sasaki et al 2007, Epstain et al 2009, Ruscher et al 2009). …”

“…Strains isolated from clinical samples, especially with history of previous antibiotic treatment are very often multiresistant. It is well documented for many organisms, including SIG strains, that the clinical use of antimicrobial drugs selects for resistant bacteria (Prescott et al 2002, Guardabassi et al 2004, Loeffler et al 2007. In 2006, a sudden rise in isolation of methicillin-resistant SIG (MRSIG) from clinical specimens of animal origin was noted (Ruscher et al 2009).…”

Methicillin Resistance in Staphylococcus pseudintermedius Isolated from Shelter Dogs in Turkey

“…Recently, methicillin-resistant S. pseudintermedius (MRSP) has emerged worldwide and spread of strains has been reported increasingly in Europe [6][7][8][9][10] . Methicillin resistance determinant, mecA gene, carried on a mobile genetic element called Staphylococcal Cassette Chromosome (SCC), also exists on S. pseudintermedius similarly to S. aureus [11] INTRODUCTION  İletişim (Correspondence)  +90 312 3170315  kmustak@ankara.edu.tr…”

Evaluation of Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute Interpretive Criteria for Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Pseudintermedius Isolated from Dogs

“…17,22 Methicillin-resistant S. pseudintermedius (MRSP) has been increasingly reported as a primary pathogen in canine infections. 2,12,13,19,23,24 All methicillin-resistant staphylococci are, by convention, regarded to be resistant to all b-lactam antibiotics in vivo. 5,7 Cephalosporins are the most common antimicrobials used to treat S. pseudintermedius infections in dogs 18 but are not efficacious for the treatment of MRSP infections.…”