MRSA strain found in food animals is linked to the Human MRSA

A strain of the antibiotic-resistant bacterium known as MRSA has jumped from food animals to humans, according to a new study led by the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen), Phoenix, AZ, USA. The study published last week in the online journal mBio focuses on MRSA CC398, a strain of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

The study suggests that MRSA CC398 probably started as a non-resistant (antibiotic-susceptible) strain in humans before it spread to food animals where it subsequently became resistant to several antibiotics. Dr Lance Price, the study’s lead author and director of the TGen’s Center for Food Microbiology and Environmental Health, said “Retracing the evolutionary history of MRSA CC398 is like watching the birth of a superbug -  it’s simultaneously fascinating and disconcerting,” added Dr Price. “MRSA CC398 was discovered less than a decade ago and it appears to be spreading very quickly.” Read more ...

Biomin produces overview on Organic acid based products and the market

As the world demand increases for safe poultry and pork, and the ban on antibiotics continues, feed additives such as organic acids in their preservative role have increasingly taken centre stage. While the market is saturated and the demand for top quality poultry and pork in industrialised countries is more or less stable, improving living standards in other countries and an increase in the worldwide population results in a steadily increasing demand for poultry and pork meat.

Biomin full article can be read here

This together with the ban of antibiotics to secure the supply of safe food is expected to result in an increased demand for animal feed additives. Especially the ban of antibiotics within the European Union has moved acidifiers in the centre of attention, as they are the next most adequate alternative to the use of antibiotics. Read more ...