MRSA Risk in Aviary Workers with Poultry
No, multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) does not pose a significant occupational problem for people working in aviaries with poultry, as the primary infectious concern in this setting is Chlamydia psittaci (psittacosis), not MRSA.
Primary Occupational Hazard: Psittacosis, Not MRSA
The evidence clearly establishes that workers in poultry environments face substantial risk from Chlamydia psittaci, not MRSA:
Poultry workers are explicitly listed as high-risk groups for psittacosis, including employees in poultry slaughtering and processing plants, farmers, workers in avian quarantine stations, and zoo workers 1.
Psittacosis accounts for approximately 10% of reported cases among pet shop employees and poultry workers during surveillance periods, with transmission occurring through inhalation of aerosolized bacteria from bird feces and respiratory secretions 1.
Even brief, transient exposure to infected birds or contaminated droppings can cause symptomatic infection, leading to severe pneumonia, endocarditis, myocarditis, and other serious complications 1.
Limited MRSA Risk in Poultry Settings
While livestock-associated MRSA (LA-MRSA) exists, the evidence shows minimal risk specifically in poultry environments:
LA-MRSA CC398 is predominantly associated with pig farming, not poultry, with colonization rates of 77-86% in humans with occupational pig exposure but only 4-5% in household members without direct animal contact 2, 3.
MRSA prevalence in poultry workers is extremely low: A study of 47 workers at poultry processing facilities ("pluck shops") found 0% MRSA colonization, while only 0.7% of broilers harbored MRSA 4.
Poultry are not a primary reservoir for LA-MRSA compared to pigs, cattle, and horses, where colonization and transmission to humans is well-documented 5, 6.
Clinical Implications and Protective Measures
For aviary workers with poultry, focus infection control efforts on psittacosis prevention, not MRSA:
Use N95 respirators or higher-efficiency respirators when cleaning cages or handling birds—surgical masks are insufficient for preventing C. psittaci transmission 1, 7.
Implement proper hygiene protocols: Wear protective clothing, gloves, and paper surgical caps when handling birds or cleaning contaminated areas 1.
Maintain surveillance for respiratory symptoms: If workers develop fever, chills, headache, malaise, and nonproductive cough after bird exposure, initiate doxycycline immediately for presumed psittacosis even before laboratory confirmation 7.
MRSA screening at hospital admission is not indicated for poultry workers unless they have additional risk factors such as pig farming exposure, recent hospitalization, or other established MRSA risk factors 1, 2.
Common Pitfall to Avoid
Do not conflate livestock-associated MRSA risk across all animal agriculture settings. The evidence demonstrates that pig farmers face substantial LA-MRSA colonization risk (up to 86%), but this does not extrapolate to poultry workers, where MRSA prevalence is negligible 2, 3, 4. The dominant occupational infectious disease concern in aviary settings remains psittacosis, which requires specific respiratory protection and clinical vigilance for atypical pneumonia presentations 1.