Customer Service

 Customer Survey

LABConnect™ - Online Results & More

Microbial Testing Services

Category Press Release
Publish Date 4/26/2021
Author Paul Cochrane
Title Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus and the Risk to Livestock Workers
Introduction EMSL Analytical, the nation's premier environmental testing laboratory, provides laboratory testing to identify MRSA, C. diff, and other superbugs from surfaces and environmental samples to confirm the effectiveness of cleaning and disinfection efforts.

Ann Arbor, NJ, April 26th, 2021

A new study performed by researchers at one of Michigan’s universities examined the risk levels associated with livestock workers contracting Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). According to the article published to the university’s newsletter, the researchers analyzed 15 years of published literature and found an elevated risk to those in occupations dealing with livestock. In fact, workers from swine farms were 15 times more likely to be carrying the bacteria than those not in the livestock industry.

MRSA is a type of staph bacteria that can be found on a person’s skin or in their nose. For those who develop an infection, it is resistant to many antibiotics which make it difficult to treat. Traditionally, MRSA infections were associated with hospitalization or other healthcare-associated risk factors. In more recent years, an increasing number of people who lack traditional healthcare-associated risk factors have also developed infections. These people appear to have community-associated (CA) infections, also referred to as CA-MRSA.

This latest research highlights the exposure risks associated with livestock-associated MRSA (LA-MRSA). LA-MRSA was first recognized in the 2000s as a zoonotic disease, which means it passes from animals to humans. LA-MRSA is a potential concern for workers that handle swine, cattle, poultry, and horses. It is also a possible hazard for veterinarians.

“While this latest research examined carriage rates, which analyzed the people who carry the superbug and are not necessarily infected by it, it still showed there is considerable risk to hundreds of thousands of people that work with livestock,” said Joe Frasca, Senior Vice President, Marketing at EMSL Analytical, Inc. “Access to personal protective equipment (PPE), personal hygiene, and effective cleaning and disinfection procedures in the livestock industry, just as in health care and community settings, are vital for mitigating the spread of MRSA and many other superbugs.”

With laboratories across the United States and Canada, EMSL Analytical provides environmental and surface testing for MRSA and other microbial pathogens. Testing is instrumental for confirming cleaning and disinfection procedures and can also be helpful for pinpointing the source of an outbreak if one has already occurred.

For more information about MRSA and microbial testing or other environmental, health, and safety testing services, please visit www.EMSL.com, call (800) 220-3675 or email info@EMSL.com.


About EMSL Analytical, Inc.
EMSL Analytical is one of the leading testing laboratories throughout the United States and Canada. EMSL is a nationally recognized and locally focused provider specializing in fast laboratory results for mold, bacteria, Legionella, USP <797>, pathogens, asbestos, lead, soot, char & ash from fires, VOC’s, odors, radon, formaldehyde, indoor air quality, microbiology, environmental, industrial hygiene, radiological, food, beverage & consumer products, and material testing services for the identification of unknown substances. EMSL services both professionals and the general public. EMSL maintains an extensive list of accreditations from leading organizations as well as state and federal regulating bodies including, but not limited to A2LA, AIHA-LAP, LLC (AIHA-LAP, LLC EMLAP, AIHA-LAP, LLC IHLAP, AIHA-LAP, LLC ELLAP), NVLAP, CDC ELITE, CPSC, CA ELAP, NY ELAP, TX DOH, NJDEP, and multiple other state accrediting agencies. Please visit our website at www.EMSL.com for a complete listing of accreditations. In addition, EMSL carries a wide range of Sampling Equipment and Investigative Products for environmental professionals.
Atlanta, GA (LAB 07) - NVLAP Lab Code 101048-1Baton Rouge, LA (LAB 25) - NVLAP Lab Code 200375-0Beltsville, MD (LAB 19) - NVLAP Lab Code 200293-0Boston, MA (LAB 13) - NVLAP Lab Code 101147-0Buffalo, NY (LAB 14) - NVLAP Lab Code 200056-0Carle Place, NY (LAB 06) - NVLAP Lab Code 101048-10Charlotte, NC (LAB 41) - NVLAP Lab Code 200841-0Chicago, IL (LAB 26) - NVLAP Lab Code 200399-0Cinnaminson, NJ (LAB List in Description) - NVLAP Lab Code 101048-0Dallas, TX (LAB 11) - NVLAP Lab Code 600111-0Denver, CO (LAB 22) - NVLAP Lab Code 200828-0EMSL Canada - Calgary, AB (LAB 65) - NVLAP Lab Code 500100-0EMSL Canada - Edmonton, AB (LAB 50) - NVLAP Lab Code 600321-0EMSL Canada - Markham, ON (LAB 66) - NVLAP Lab Code 600317-0EMSL Canada - Montreal, QC (LAB 68) - NVLAP Lab Code 201052-0EMSL Canada - Ottawa, ON (LAB 67) - NVLAP Lab Code 201040-0EMSL Canada - Toronto, ON (LAB 55) - NVLAP Lab Code 200877-0EMSL Canada - Vancouver, BC (LAB 69) - NVLAP Lab Code 201068-0Fort Lauderdale, FL (LAB 56) - NVLAP Lab Code 500085-0Houston, TX (LAB 15) - NVLAP Lab Code 102106-0Huntington Beach, CA (LAB 33) - NVLAP Lab Code 101384-0Indianapolis, IN (LAB 16) - NVLAP Lab Code 200188-0Kernersville, NC (LAB 02) - NVLAP Lab Code 102104-0Long Island City, NY (LAB 03) - NVLAP Lab Code 101048-9Meriden, CT (LAB 24) - NVLAP Lab Code 200700-0Miami, FL (LAB 17) - NVLAP Lab Code 200204-0Minneapolis, MN (LAB 35) - NVLAP Lab Code 200019-0Ontario, California (San Bernadino County / Inland Empire) (LAB 71) - NVLAP Lab Code 600239-0Orlando, FL (LAB 34) - NVLAP Lab Code 101151-0Phoenix, AZ (LAB 12) - NVLAP Lab Code 200811-0Piscataway, NJ (LAB 05) - NVLAP Lab Code 101048-2Plymouth Meeting, PA (LAB 18) - NVLAP Lab Code 200699-0Raleigh, NC (LAB 29) - NVLAP Lab Code 200671-0Rochester, NY (LAB 53) - NVLAP Lab Code 600183-0San Diego, CA (LAB 43) - NVLAP Lab Code 200855-0San Leandro, CA (LAB 09) - NVLAP Lab Code 101048-3Santa Clara, CA (LAB 47) - NVLAP Lab Code 600318-0Seattle, WA (LAB 51) - NVLAP Lab Code 200613-0South Pasadena, CA (LAB 32) - NVLAP Lab Code 200232-0South Portland, ME (LAB 62) - NVLAP Lab Code 500094-0St. Louis, MO (LAB 39) - NVLAP Lab Code 200742-0Tampa, FL (LAB 93) - NVLAP Lab Code 600215-0
Sorry, this function is disabled.