Pets transmit „super bacteria“ causing 700,000 deaths annually
A recent study conducted by researchers from England and Portugal has shown that domestic animals can harbor superbugs that are resistant to antibiotics. The study examined whether pets treated with antibiotics for skin, tissue, and urinary tract infections could share their bacteria with their owners.
The research focused on bacteria resistant to new antibiotics and involved taking samples from 43 houses, 43 pets, and 78 people in Portugal. In England, seven dogs and eight humans living in seven houses were studied. The results showed that the DNA of the superbugs found in a cat and five dogs in Portugal was similar to their owners. Similarly, a dog and its owner in England had comparable drug-resistant bacterial DNA, indicating that these bacteria can pass between animals and humans.
It is not clear whether the bacteria passed from pets to humans or vice versa. However, the study leader, Juliana Menezes from the University of Lisbon, emphasizes that pets‘ participation in antimicrobial resistance assessments is crucial.
The findings from this study are significant because about 700,000 people worldwide die each year due to drug-resistant infections. Therefore, it is crucial to control the spread of superbugs and find effective treatments for drug-resistant infections. This study highlights the importance of monitoring domestic animals, especially if they are given antibiotics, as they can carry bacteria that can lead to drug-resistant infections in humans.
