Asymptomatic nasal carriage of mupirocin-resistant, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in a pet dog associated with MRSA infection in household contacts

Recurrent methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection in a patient with diabetes and in his wife is described. Culture of nares samples from the family dog grew mupirocin-resistant (minimum inhibitory concentration >1024 mug/mL) MRSA that had a pulsed-field gel electrophoresis chromosomal pattern identical to the MRSA isolated from the patient's nares and his wife's wound. Further recurrence of MRSA infection and nasal colonization in the couple was prevented only after successful eradication of MRSA from the family dog's nares.