Table 2 Measures taken to eradicate MRSA in two Norwegian pig herds

Depopulation. All pigs slaughtered or culled.

X

X

Functional pest control programs running

X

X

The manure was collected by a local entrepreneur and applied on nearby fields before it was incorporated in the topsoil using plough and/or harrow. Tractors and equipment used for this work was washed and disinfected after the work on the case farms.

X

X

Miscellaneous, like tools, manure scrapes, boots, piglet creep heat lamps, boxes and cans, was removed from all rooms and discarded.

X

Miscellaneous were removed from all rooms and washed and disinfected. Boots and manure scrapes were discarded.

X

Rooms were first soaked in water and then washed using water high-pressure washers to remove most of visible dirt from the floors, inventory, walls and ceilings.

X

X

Detergent was applied to all surfaces and high-pressure washers was again used to remove the rest of the visible dirt.

X

X

Internal surfaces were rinsed off with water and standing water in puddles, troughs and manure canals was drained.

X

X

Rooms were left to dry. If low temperatures and/or high humidity prolonged the time needed for drying, extra heat sources was used to dry the rooms more effectively.

X

X

All interior dismantled and discarded

-Pen walls

-Piglet creeps

-Troughs

-Feeding system

-Water supply

-Smoke detecting system

-Slatted floors

-Ventilation system

-Indoor roofs with its insulation

X

The plastic, one-piece pen divider walls were dismantled, and the bottom of the walls were filled in with acryl to prevent organic matter to build up inside the walls.

X

All rooms washed a second time

X

X

Repaired pen walls were reinstalled

X

New roofs and all new inventory/interior installed

X

All rooms washed a third time

X

X

All surfaces disinfected using the commercial disinfectant Virocid® according to the manufacturer’s instructions

X

X

All rooms were disinfected using mobile fogging units dispersing a 1,5% Virocid® solution

X

X