A new article in the reputed British medical journal The Lancet is drawing notice to the increasing possibility that our pets may harbor methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA, the multi-drug resistant bacteria. MRSA is known to be transmitted between humans, dogs and cats with these pets often becoming reservoirs of the bacteria. In the US and Europe, dog and cat bites consist of 1% of emergency room visits annually. However, as MRSA is on the rise, so is the possibility that household animal bites contain the bacteria. Immediate treatment of canine and feline bites is necessary whether the injury is deep or superficial. This includes thorough cleaning with soap and water, saline, and sometimes antibiotics. Read more about zoonosis, or animal-transmitted infections.
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Dr. Steven Chang, the author of DailyDose, is a staff physician with Kosmix RightHealth. Dr. Chang practices Family Medicine at the University of California Davis Medical Center, where his medical interests include both pediatric and geriatric care, public health, gay and lesbian health, and sleep medicine. Dr. Chang trained at the Stanford University affiliated O'Connor Hospital, and was a research fellow at the National Institute of Health. He holds an M.D. from McGill University and a BA in Public Health from Johns Hopkins University.