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Dangerous MRSA infections may come from an unexpected source. According to a study published in the July 2009 issue of the Lancet Infectious Diseases, cats, dogs, and horses have been shown to carry Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), a particularly nasty form of bacteria that resists treatment by antibiotics. MRSA can cause disfiguring infections and serious complications, or even death.

Dogs and cats usually carry a different form of Staphylococcus, but they can acquire MRSA from humans. Pets can act as reservoirs of the bacteria, so that infection can be passed back and forth between humans and their domesticated companions. Of particular concern are dog and cat bites, because these deep puncture wounds can harbor MRSA and provide an ideal environment for infection to flourish. Bites on the human hand, forearm, neck, and head are the most prone to infection. Children are most often bit in these areas because they are short. Cat bites usually cause deeper puncture wounds than dog bites and carry more risk of infection.

“Pet owners are often unaware of the potential for transmission of life-threatening pathogens from their canine and feline companions,” the researchers said. Doctors treating such wounds should be aware of the animal’s history and the risk of MRSA infection, so that appropriate treatment can be administered.