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| Government study to check pet dog and cat poo for superbugs | Government study to check pet dog and cat poo for superbugs |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Some pets might be carrying hard-to-treat superbugs | Some pets might be carrying hard-to-treat superbugs |
| The UK government will soon be asking lots of cat and dog owners to collect and send their pets' poo for laboratory testing. | |
| Experts worry that some domestic animals might carry hard-to-treat superbugs - bacteria that have become resistant to common antibiotics. | Experts worry that some domestic animals might carry hard-to-treat superbugs - bacteria that have become resistant to common antibiotics. |
| The world-first study will monitor healthy pets, not just those that are ill, to spot which bugs might pose a threat. | The world-first study will monitor healthy pets, not just those that are ill, to spot which bugs might pose a threat. |
| They can spread to people through close contact with pets, such as kissing and stroking, as well as handling poo, research suggests. | They can spread to people through close contact with pets, such as kissing and stroking, as well as handling poo, research suggests. |
| In many cases the bacteria do no harm, but some can lead to serious issues, including bloodstream infections or sepsis. | In many cases the bacteria do no harm, but some can lead to serious issues, including bloodstream infections or sepsis. |
| Poo samples | Poo samples |
| Over half of UK adults own pets and live with them in a shared environment, meaning that bacteria, including resistant bacteria, can spread easily between animals and people, says the goverment's Veterinary Medicines Directorate. | Over half of UK adults own pets and live with them in a shared environment, meaning that bacteria, including resistant bacteria, can spread easily between animals and people, says the goverment's Veterinary Medicines Directorate. |
| Several studies have shown pets and owners can potentially swap pathogens, including the hospital 'superbug' MRSA. | Several studies have shown pets and owners can potentially swap pathogens, including the hospital 'superbug' MRSA. |
| Scotland's Rural College will run the study over four years. | Scotland's Rural College will run the study over four years. |
| Prof John Berezowski, who is one of the researchers, said they would work with pet owners and their vets to explore how best to collect all the poo samples. | Prof John Berezowski, who is one of the researchers, said they would work with pet owners and their vets to explore how best to collect all the poo samples. |
| "This initiative is critical for a better understanding of the transmission and maintenance of antimicrobial resistance in our pets," he said. | "This initiative is critical for a better understanding of the transmission and maintenance of antimicrobial resistance in our pets," he said. |
| The World Health Organization classes antibiotic resistance as one of the greatest public health threats facing humanity. | The World Health Organization classes antibiotic resistance as one of the greatest public health threats facing humanity. |
| Drug-resistant infections kill more than 1.2 million people a year globally, with the figure projected to rise to 10 million by 2050 if no action is taken, it says. | Drug-resistant infections kill more than 1.2 million people a year globally, with the figure projected to rise to 10 million by 2050 if no action is taken, it says. |
| To prevent transmission, experts recommend owners practise good hygiene, including washing their hands after petting their dog or cat and after handling their waste. | To prevent transmission, experts recommend owners practise good hygiene, including washing their hands after petting their dog or cat and after handling their waste. |
| If a pet is unwell, owners might consider isolating them in one room to prevent the spread of bacteria throughout the house, and clean other rooms thoroughly. | If a pet is unwell, owners might consider isolating them in one room to prevent the spread of bacteria throughout the house, and clean other rooms thoroughly. |
| Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) arises when organisms that cause infection evolve ways to survive treatments. | Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) arises when organisms that cause infection evolve ways to survive treatments. |
| Without effective antibiotics, even minor surgery and routine operations, such as caesarean sections when giving birth, could become high-risk procedures if serious infections can't be treated. | Without effective antibiotics, even minor surgery and routine operations, such as caesarean sections when giving birth, could become high-risk procedures if serious infections can't be treated. |