| Autor: |
VAN Cleef BA; Laboratory for Microbiology and Infection Control,Amphia Hospital,Breda,The Netherlands., VAN Benthem BH; Centre for Infectious Disease Control Netherlands,National Institute for Public Health and the Environment,Bilthoven,The Netherlands., Verkade EJ; Laboratory for Microbiology and Infection Control,Amphia Hospital,Breda,The Netherlands., VAN Rijen MM; Laboratory for Microbiology and Infection Control,Amphia Hospital,Breda,The Netherlands., Kluytmans-VAN DEN Bergh MF; Amphia Academy Infectious Disease Foundation,Amphia Hospital,Breda,The Netherlands., Graveland H; Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences,Utrecht University,Utrecht,The Netherlands., Bosch T; Centre for Infectious Disease Control Netherlands,National Institute for Public Health and the Environment,Bilthoven,The Netherlands., Verstappen KM; Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunology,Utrecht University,Utrecht,The Netherlands., Wagenaar JA; Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunology,Utrecht University,Utrecht,The Netherlands., Heederik D; Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences,Utrecht University,Utrecht,The Netherlands., Kluytmans JA; Laboratory for Microbiology and Infection Control,Amphia Hospital,Breda,The Netherlands. |
| Abstrakt: |
There is limited knowledge about the effect of livestock-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (LA-MRSA) carriage on health-related quality of life (QoL). With this study, we explored whether LA-MRSA causes infections or affects health-related QoL in pig farmers. This prospective cohort study surveyed persons working on 49 farrowing pig farms in The Netherlands for 1 year (2010-2011). On six sampling moments, nasal swabs, environmental samples and questionnaires on activities and infections were collected. At the end of the study year, persons were asked about their QoL using the validated SF-36 and EQ-5D questionnaires. Of 120 persons, 44 (37%) were persistent MRSA carriers. MRSA carriage was not associated with infections, use of antimicrobials, healthcare contact and health-related QoL items in univariate or multivariate analysis, most likely due to the 'healthy worker effect'. Despite high carriage rates, the impact of LA-MRSA carriage in this population of relatively healthy pig farmers on health and health-related QoL appears limited; more research is needed for confirmation. |
