One of the biggest threats facing humanity is antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Now, a new study has found that your beloved pet may be a super spreader of the virus.
According to the University of Oxford, infections caused by drug-resistant bacteria cause more than 1.2 million deaths worldwide each year, and this number could rise to up to 1,000 by 2050 unless action is taken to curb antibiotic-resistant bacteria. It is predicted that this number will increase to 10,000.
But according to research from the University of Lisbon in Portugal, humans may not be solely to blame.
“Recent studies have shown that the transmission of antibiotic-resistant bacteria between humans and animals, including pets, is important in maintaining resistance levels, and that humans are “It challenges the traditional idea that it is the main carrier of the virus,” said Juliana Menezes. said the study's lead author, a doctoral student at the University of Lisbon, in a statement.
“Understanding and addressing the transmission of antibiotic-resistant bacteria from pets to humans is essential to effectively combating antibiotic-resistant bacteria in both human and animal populations.”
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To determine whether these resistant bacteria can be passed from pets to their owners, Menezes and colleagues collected fecal and urine samples and skin swabs from dogs, cats and their owners and tested them for these so-called “superbugs.” . All 134 humans in the study were healthy, but all of their pets had some kind of skin or urinary tract infection.
Although direct transmission from pets to owners could not be proven, many of the humans tested carried the same antibiotic-resistant bacteria as the infected pets.
“Our findings highlight the importance of including pet-owning households in national programs to monitor levels of antibiotic resistance,” Menezes said.
“Learning more about pet resistance will help us develop informed and targeted interventions to protect both animal and human health.”
For this reason, Menezes recommends that you seriously think about your pet's infections and illnesses. “When your pet is sick, consider isolating them in one room and deep cleaning other rooms to prevent spreading germs throughout the house,” she said.
Take care of your pet, because even if your pet doesn't look visibly sick, germs can be transferred from your pet to you by petting, touching, kissing, and handling poop. It is important to maintain good hygiene.
The results of this study will be presented at the European Society for Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases to be held in Barcelona, Spain at the end of April.
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