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Pets Carry Drug-Resistant Superbugs
15 Sep
Summary
- Nearly half of pet samples showed antibiotic-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae.
- Closely related bacterial strains found in pets and humans globally.
- One superbug strain shows near-identical genetic links between pets and people.
A recent study revealed that nearly half of Klebsiella pneumoniae samples collected from pet dogs and cats in 25 countries exhibit high levels of antibiotic resistance. This bacterium, commonly found in human feces, can lead to severe infections like pneumonia, sepsis, and urinary tract infections. Researchers found that approximately 87% of Klebsiella strains from pets were also identified in humans, suggesting a significant overlap.
Genetic analysis further indicated that about 43% of the bacteria from pets displayed resistance to at least one antibiotic, with a high percentage of these being multi-drug-resistant. Of particular concern is the ST147 strain, a multi-drug-resistant lineage found to be nearly genetically identical in samples from both pets and humans. This finding emphasizes the interconnectedness of antimicrobial resistance across species and the need for comprehensive global strategies.
