A recent study by scientists at Columbia University found that mice in New York City are carrying drug-resistant microbes. They surveyed 416 mice, taken from seven residential sites across the city over a year. By assessing the genetic material in their droppings, investigators found that they carried several bacteria that cause stomach distress, including C. difficile, E. coli, Shigella, and Salmonella.
"From tiny studios to penthouse suites, New York City apartments are continually invaded by house mice," said the lead author of the study, Simon H. Williams, a researcher at the Center for Infection and Immunity. "Our study raises the possibility that serious infections -- including those resistant to antibiotics -- may be passed from these mice to humans, although further research is needed to understand how often this happens, if at all."
This study confirms previous work that also identified microorganisms like C. difficile in urban mice.
