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Volume 16, Number 1—January 2010
Research

Methicillin-Resistant and -Susceptible Staphylococcus aureus Infections in Dogs

Meredith C. FairesComments to Author , Michelle Traverse, Kathy C. Tater, David L. Pearl, and J. Scott Weese
Author affiliations: University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada (M.C. Faires, D.L. Pearl, J.S. Weese); University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA (M. Traverse); Angell Animal Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA (K.C. Tater)

Main Article

Table 3

Univariable analysis of infection site, duration of hospitalization, and medical and surgical risk factors for MRSA versus MSSA infections in dogs, United States and Canada, 2001–2007*

Variable MRSA, no. (%) dogs, n = 40 MSSA, no. (%) dogs, n = 80† Odds ratio (95% CI) p value‡
Site of infection
Skin 19 (47.5) 38/78 (48.7) Ref
Ear 5 (12.5) 11/78 (14.1) 0.89 (0.21–3.28) 1.00
Skeletal§ 7 (17.5) 6/78 (7.7) 2.69 (0.53–17.96) 0.23
Urinary¶ 3 (7.5) 11/78 (14.1) 0.37 (0.03–2.20) 0.29
Other#
6 (15.0)
12/78 (15.4)
1.06 (0.24–4.14)
1.00
Duration of hospitalization
Short (<2 d) 25 (62.5) 57 (71.3) Ref
Medium (3–7 d) 11 (27.5) 19 (23.8) 1.59 (0.52–4.94) 0.45
Long (>7 d)
4 (10.0)
4 (5.0)
2.70 (0.43–17.49)
0.23
Intravenous catheterization**
No 21 (52.5) 58 (72.5) Ref
Yes
19 (47.5)
22 (27.5)
3.27 (1.14–10.65)
0.02
Surgery**
No 25 (62.5) 58 (72.5) Ref
Yes
15 (37.5)
22 (27.5)
1.61 (0.65–4.09)
0.29
Urinary catheterization**
No 36 (90.0) 77 (96.3) Ref
Yes 4 (10.0) 3 (3.8) 6.00 (0.48–314.98) 0.11

*MRSA, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus; MSSA, methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus; CI, confidence interval; Ref, referent category. Dogs with MRSA (case-patients) and MSSA (controls) infections were matched for veterinary referral hospital and date of admission.
†Except as indicated.
‡Score method for estimating p values does not assume a symmetrical distribution for discrete data. p<0.05 was considered significant.
§Specimens were from internal joint surface, joint fluid, intramedullary pin, and orthopedic implant.
¶Specimens were urine, urinary calculus, urinary catheter, and the wall of the urinary bladder.
#Specimens were abdominal and thoracic fluids, blood, oral cavity swabs, lymph nodes, vaginal swabs, transtracheal wash fluid, and milk.
**Procedures performed before infection occurred.

Main Article

Page created: March 31, 2011
Page updated: March 31, 2011
Page reviewed: March 31, 2011
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