Predictors of Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus pseudintermedius infections at a veterinary hospital in Malaysia

Aims: This study was aimed to identify the risk factors associated with the spread of Staphylococcus aureus and S. pseudintermedius isolated from dogs, cats and humans who visited a veterinary hospital.Methodology and results: A questionnaire was employed to address potential risk factors among dogs, cats and their owners, with a total of 375 samples collected.The data from the questionnaire was analysed using Fisher's exact test and multivariable logistic regression.Six (4.8%) owners, 7 (9.3%)pet dogs and 4 (8%) pet cats were positive for S. pseudintermedius and 2 (4%) pet cats and 2 (1.6%) owners were positive for S. aureus.Keeping other pets in a house where humans also live and cats that lick the face of owners were among the significant risk factors in the carriage of S. pseudintermedius.Conclusion, significance and impact of study: It was found that the presence of other pets in the home and the habit of cats licking the faces of their owners were among the risk factors that resulted in a significant association with S. pseudintermedius in pet cats.Research findings suggest that the close contact between pets and their owners resulted in a higher rate of colonisation of S. aureus and S. pseudintermedius.