Effect of a disinfection strategy on the methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus CC398 prevalence of sows, their piglets and the barn environment

Abstract

Aims To assess, in a cleaned and disinfected barn environment, the efficacy of an animal disinfection strategy to reduce the livestock-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (LA-MRSA) prevalence in sows, their offspring and the barn environment. Methods and Results On each farm, six sow rounds were sampled; sows were divided into either a test or control group. Per round, 20 sows and 40 of their piglets were sampled at different time points together with the barn environment. The disinfection strategy of the test groups consisted of washing the sows with a shampoo followed by disinfection of the skin with a solution containing chlorhexidine digluconate and isopropanol. On the first day of disinfection and 6days after stopping the disinfection, a significant decrease (P0 center dot 6; P<0 center dot 01) was seen between MRSA contamination in the barn environment and the MRSA prevalence in pigs. Conclusion Results show that the tested disinfection strategy reduces temporarily the sow and piglet MRSA status, but does not result in a final reduction in MRSA at weaning or in the nursery unit. Significance and Impact of the Study First report on the efficacy of an animal disinfection strategy to reduce LA-MRSA prevalence in sows, their offspring and the barn environment