Pig farms act as reservoir of Livestock-Associated Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (LA-MRSA). Through occupational exposure to farm dust and contact with pigs, farm workers are at risk for acquiring LA-MRSA. Although health care institutions can cope with the current situation, it is a burden for patients, health care staff, and finances. In addition, the recent observed adaptation of LA-MRSA originating from pigs to humans in Denmark further highlights the need to reduce LA-MRSA colonization in pigs and subsequent transmission to humans. In a pilot study of the nasal microbiome we observed that piglets become LA-MRSA positive after a few days of birth. The presence of several other bacterial species, including coagulase-negative staphylococci was negatively associated with the presence of LA-MRSA. More evidence is needed regarding which bacterial species and/or strains compete with LAMRSA. The project aims to establish the effect of colonization resistance (bacterial competition) on the transmission of LA-MRSA from pigs to humans by i) identifying bacterial species that compete with LA-MRSA (S. aureus in general) in a systematic way using state of the art bioinformatics and metagenomics methods at strain level, ii) studying the efficacy of applying a nasal microflora for piglets which will be produced under GMP conditions by the industrial partner in the project and tested under field conditions at conventional farms, and iii) to estimate the risk reduction as a result from limiting MRSA transmission to humans by reducing shedding and consequently a more limited environmental contamination. Communication with farmers, veterinarians, public health workers and other stakeholders, with the help of our supporting organizations, will prepare the stakeholders for the outcome of the project, bringing it close to immediate use in practice. ExcludeMRSA will deliver a reduction of MRSA colonization or will lead to complete prevention of MRSA colonization by precolonization of piglets with microflora. The efficacy will be assessed in two countries by using proven environmental risk models for human exposure and evaluating changes in the exposure risk association. Because of the earlier performed successful pilot studies, the experience of the partners and the inclusion of an industrial partner experienced in production of live strains, this project is feasible in three years’ time

• prof. dr. J.A. (Jaap) Wagenaar
• dr. B. (Birgitta) Duim
• dr. A.L. (Aldert) Zomer

• Marcus Claesson (UCC)
• Peadar Lawlor (Teagasc)
• Fellipe Freitas Barbosa (EW-nutrition)

MRSA-PREVENT richt zich op het verminderen van de overdracht van de methicilline-resistente Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bacterie van varkens naar mensen. Mensen op varkensbedrijven lopen het risico om besmet te worden met deze resistentie bacterie. In ziekenhuizen wordt door het actieve ‘search en destroy’ beleid de insleep van MRSA voorkomen maar de kosten hiervan zijn hoog.

In dit project wordt gezocht, met hightech moleculaire technieken, of bacteriën die van nature bij varkens in de neus voorkomen de groei van MRSA kunnen remmen. Modelmatig wordt onderzocht of deze bacteriën ‘kolonisatie resistentie’ geven zodat MRSA zich niet meer kan vestigen in de varkens neus. Bij een aantal varkens bedrijven wordt onderzocht hoeveel deze toediening het risico voor overdracht van MRSA naar mensen beperkt. Dit project is een interdisciplinaire aanpak, waarin artsen, onderzoekers, dierenartsen en veehouders gezamenlijk werken aan het beperken van de overdracht van MRSA van varkens naar mensen.

• prof. dr. ir. L.A. (Lidwien) Smit
• A. (Arie) van Nes
• dr. Ad Fluit
• prof. dr. J.A. (Jaap) Wagenaar
• dr. B. (Birgitta) Duim
• dr. A.L. (Aldert) Zomer

• Marjolein Kluytmans-van den Bergh
• Gerard van Eijden