Quantitative exposure of pig slaughterhouse workers to livestock-associated MRSA ST398
研究定量检测了荷兰三家猪屠宰场工人接触MRSA的情况，发现屠宰线前段（待宰、烫毛、脱毛区）是主要风险区域，工人鼻腔携带率为3.2%，且暴露量沿屠宰线递减。
<h3>Objectives</h3> Livestock-associated MRSA occurs frequently in pigs and has become an occupational risk for livestock farmers and veterinarians. Slaughterhouse personnel are also exposed to live animals, and have frequent contact with dead animals and meat products. This study estimates exposure of pig slaughterhouse workers by quantifying MRSA in air and on hands, and assesses MRSA carriage risk factors. <h3>Methods</h3> Nasal swabs were collected from 341 workers from three Dutch pig slaughterhouses in a cross-sectional study, and analysed to determine MRSA carriage. MRSA exposure in air and on workers9 gloves was quantitatively determined by culturing of MRSA and qPCR targeting ST398, SCCmec and mecA. Questionnaires were used to collect data on potential risk factors. <h3>Results</h3> Nasal MRSA carriage was found in 3.2% of the participants, predominantly at the start of the slaughter line. Major risk factors for carriage were working in the lairage, scalding and dehairing area. Nasal isolates predominantly (73%) belonged to the LA-MRSA clone ST398. A clear decrease was seen along the slaughter line in the number of MRSA positive samples and MRSA colony count per sample, both by culturing and qPCR calculated to estimated equivalent CFUs. <h3>Conclusions</h3> This study showed that working in the lairage, scalding and dehairing area were the major risk factors for MRSA carriage in pig slaughterhouse workers, with a low overall prevalence. Occupational exposure to MRSA in air and on hands decreases along the slaughter line and parallels carriage risk.