Face Mask Use and Persistence of Livestock-Associated Staphylococcus aureus Nasal Carriage among Industrial Hog Operation Workers and Household Contacts, USA

Citation

Nadimpalli, Maya L.; Stewart, Jill R.; Pierce, Elizabeth B.; Pisanic, Nora; Love, David C.; Hall, Devon J.; Larsen, Jesper R.; Carroll, Karen C.; Tekle, Tsigereda; & Perl, Trish M., et al. (2018). Face Mask Use and Persistence of Livestock-Associated Staphylococcus aureus Nasal Carriage among Industrial Hog Operation Workers and Household Contacts, USA. Environmental Health Perspectives, 126(12), 127005. PMCID: PMC6371678

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Industrial hog operation (IHO) workers may persistently carry antibiotic-resistant, livestock-associated Staphylococcus aureus in their nasal cavities. It is unclear whether IHO work activities can alter IHO workers' and their household members' exposure to these bacteria. OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to investigate the relationship of IHO work activities with persistence of antibiotic-resistant, livestock-associated S. aureus nasal carriage among IHO workers and their household members.
METHODS: At biweekly intervals over 4 months, IHO workers and their household members completed questionnaires and provided nasal swabs that were assessed for S. aureus, multidrug-resistant S. aureus (MDRSA), and livestock-associated markers (tetracycline resistance, scn absence, spa type). We examined the association between transient and habitual IHO work activities and S. aureus nasal carriage outcomes. RESULTS: One hundred one IHO workers and 79 household members completed 1,456 study visits. Face mask use (each 25% increase) was associated with reduced odds of nasal carriage of MDRSA (odds ratio [OR]: 0.65 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.46, 0.92], tetracycline-resistant S. aureus [OR = 0.74 (95% CI: 0.56, 0.97)], and S. aureus clonal complex (CC) 398/CC9 [OR = 0.77 (95% CI: 0.60, 0.99)]. IHO workers who ever (vs. never) gave pigs injections had higher odds of these outcomes. Among household members, living with an IHO worker who consistently ([Formula: see text] of the time) versus sometimes or never used a face mask was associated with reduced odds of carrying scn-negative S. aureus, tetracycline-resistant S. aureus, and S. aureus CC398/CC9 (OR range: 0.12-0.20, all [Formula: see text]), and consistent IHO worker coveralls use was associated with reduced odds of household member MDRSA carriage only. Living with an IHO worker who habitually had contact with [Formula: see text] hogs (vs. [Formula: see text]) was associated with higher odds of household member livestock-associated S. aureus carriage.
CONCLUSIONS: Consistent face mask use was associated with reduced exposure to antibiotic-resistant, livestock-associated S. aureus among IHO workers and their household members.

URL

http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/ehp3453

Reference Type

Journal Article

Year Published

2018

Journal Title

Environmental Health Perspectives

Author(s)

Nadimpalli, Maya L.
Stewart, Jill R.
Pierce, Elizabeth B.
Pisanic, Nora
Love, David C.
Hall, Devon J.
Larsen, Jesper R.
Carroll, Karen C.
Tekle, Tsigereda
Perl, Trish M.
Heaney, Christopher D.

PMCID

PMC6371678

ORCiD

Stewart, J - 0000-0002-3474-5233