A recent article at The Horse.com regarding the shared presence of Methicillin-resistant Staphylcoccus aureus (MRSA) in horses and humans caught my eye. When I suffered for several months from a previously undiagnosed MRSA skin infection last year, I didn't know, and was never told by health providers, that I could have gotten it from my involvement with horses.

MRSA is defined as a serious and potentially fatal infection caused by Staphylococcus aureus bacteria that is resistant to the broad-spectrum antibiotics commonly used to treat infections. It is an opportunistic bacteria that can fatally attack those that are weakened by illness, surgery or an immune-compromising disease.

I was none of these, and in fact was quite healthy otherwise -- running 20 miles a week and working out -- until I developed a series of painful boil-type wounds under my arm.

According to Dr. Maureen Anderson, who spoke at the 2008 American Association of Equine Practitioners conference, MRSA is ten times more likely to occur in an equine practitioner than in the general population, which would make horse keepers and other professionals, such as farriers, more susceptible than non-horsey people.

While most animals don't transmit MRSA to other species, horses are an unhappy exception. The ST398 form of MRSA, found in horses, seems to readily cross species barriers, including horse-to-human transmission.

Clinical MRSA infections can occur as sporadic cases or outbreaks. A wide range of infections can develop. In horses in the general population, skin and soft tissue infections -- including wound and surgical site infections, catheter sites and joint infections -- are most common.

Twenty percent of horses with clinical signs of MRSA infection succumbed to complications caused by the bacteria. I don't find statistics for human infection, but it is certainly much lower. I recovered with several months of intense antibiotics that had their own set of side effects. Here are some things you can do to avoid MRSA infection:

-- Wash your hands with soap and water or at least alcohol-based hand sanitizers when handling an animal with an infected wound, boil, or sore.

-- Be alert to MRSA-like symptoms in your horse: skin or soft tissue infection, especially those that exude pus, catheter site infections, etc. If a problem seems unusually persistent or severe, call the vet and ask that the wound be cultured.

-- If you develop a skin infection of any type, see a health care professional and insist that your wound to be cultured.

-- Cover all wounds if possible and avoid contact with animal/people wounds and bandages.

Don't share horse or human personal items such as towels or razors.

AERC members get Endurance News delivered each month!

New members: join online by clicking here or phone the office toll-free, 866-271-2372.

Renewing? Click here, or give the office staff a call at 866-271-2372.

How far will you ride this year? Join AERC and we'll help you count the miles!