Residential proximity to large numbers of swine in feeding operations is associated with increased risk of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus colonization at time of hospital admission in rural Iowa veterans.

Among 1,036 patients, residential proximity within 1 mile of large swine facilities was associated with nearly double the risk of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) colonization at admission (relative risk, 1.8786 [95% confidence interval, 1.0928-3.2289]; P = .0239) and, after controlling for multiple admissions and age, was associated with nearly triple the odds of MRSA colonization (odds ratio, 2.76 [95% confidence interval, 1.2728-5.9875]; P = .0101).