Research in Human-Animal Interaction
Lefebvre, S. L.; Weese, J. S.;
Journal of Hospital Infection. 2009. 72: 3, 268-269.
Abstract
In June-August 2007, a study of 26 pet therapy dog-handler teams, 12 of which visited acute care and 14 of which visited long-term care facilities in southern Ontario, Canada, was conducted. Each dog's forepaws, as well as each handler's hands, were sampled before and after each visit by immersion in sterile saline solution for one minute, followed by culture of methicillin-resistant <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i>, vancomycin-resistant enterococci and <i>Clostridium difficile</i>. The haircoat of each dog was also sampled immediately before and after each visit as follows. MRSA isolates were additionally characterized with pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE); those of <i>C. difficile</i> were subjected to polymerase chain reaction ribotyping and PCR assay for detection of genes encoding toxins A and binary toxin CDT. The results showed that none of the tested pathogens was detected on the paws of any dogs prior to visitation, nor were they identified on hands after petting any dogs prior to visitation. One (4%) dog acquired <i>C. difficile</i> on its paws during its visit to an acute care facility. The isolate possessed the genes for all 3 toxins and was identified via ribotyping as an epidemic strain. In addition, MRSA was detected on the hands of the investigator after petting a Pug that had visited a long-term care facility. That isolate possessed the PFGE profile of a clone that originated in hospitals. Vancomycin-resistant enterococci were not detected on any dog, before or after visitation. Although, only 13 (50%) handlers were observed to practice hand hygiene at least once during the visit, none of the handlers had positive test results for any of the pathogens. The results strongly suggested that dogs became contaminated with pathogens during the visits.