Prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in surgeon gloves of a mobile veterinary surgical sterilization unit in Bogotá D.C.

Mobile Surgical Units (MSUs) facilitate canine and feline sterilization in vulnerable areas of Bogotá, Colombia, expanding access to veterinary surgical services. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a significant veterinary pathogen due to its role in animal morbidity and mortality, as well as its zoonotic potential. This study aimed to determine MRSA prevalence on surgeons’ gloves during MSU sterilization campaigns in Bogotá in May 2024. A survey was administered, and swab samples were collected from the internal (palmar) and interdigital glove surfaces after every five animals treated across 10 sterilization campaigns in different Bogotá localities. Samples were microbiologically processed using enriched, selective, and differential media, including CHROMagar MRSA. Data were recorded in an Excel database and analyzed using a chi-square test in RStudio to assess associations between MRSA presence and factors such as animal type (canine or feline), socioeconomic stratum, surgeon’s sex, and glove changes between procedures. The results indicated a 20% MRSA prevalence, with no significant correlations observed between MRSA presence and the studied variables.