Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus among companion and food-chain animals: impact of human contacts.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), one of the major pathogens in humans, is a cause of infection and colonization among animals. The increasing number of companion animals and antibiotic use have made this population a reservoir of MRSA. In parallel, the evolution of new MRSA clones and mec homologues among animals of the food chain has emphasized the need for infection control practices in animals and humans in close contact. On the basis of a review of the literature, epidemiological and evolutionary data for MRSA infections and carriage, risk factors and control strategies are presented.