News Agriculture

Drug-resistant staph can cling to farm workers for days

Bacteria may spread to people who live nearby

pig farm

SWINE GERMS  Dangerous strains of staph breed among pigs and can cling to workers for days after they leave the farm. 

EPA/Wikimedia Commons

By Beth Mole

- More than 2 years ago

Days after leaving the farm, agricultural workers can still tote farm-reared, drug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in their noses. The pig-dwelling bacteria may cause infections in the workers and could put family and community members at risk, too.