Dynamics of the human nasal microbiota and Staphylococcus aureus CC398 carriage in pig truck drivers across one workweek

In Denmark, the number of human MRSA cases has increased dramatically since the beginning of the millennium. The increase was initially observed in relation to imported cases and spread in the community. However, today approximately one third of all new cases are attributed to livestock-associated MRSA (LA-MRSA) CC398. This mirrors the increase observed in pig farms of which 95% are now positive for LA-MRSA, mainly caused by three dominant lineages enriched for a number of key antimicrobial resistance genes. Whereas most human LA-MRSA CC398 infections in Denmark are linked to livestock contact, still up to one third is not. Pig truck drivers constitute a hitherto understudied occupation group which may transmit LA-MRSA CC398 to household members, the community, and hospitals. In this study, we demonstrate dramatic work-related changes in the nasal microbiota of pig truck drivers, as well as in their carriage of LA-MRSA CC398. See sample information here: https://github.com/ssi-dk/Pig_truck_drivers_Ingham_et_al