Study finds pets can transmit antibiotic-resistant superbugs to owners in UK and Portugal.

A new study reveals that pets, such as cats and dogs, may pass antibiotic-resistant superbugs to their owners. The research, presented at the ESCMID Global Congress, found evidence of multidrug-resistant bacteria being passed between sick pets and their healthy owners in the UK and Portugal through touch, kisses, and picking up pet waste. These dangerous drug-resistant infections kill over 1.2 million people globally each year, and the World Health Organisation classifies antibiotic resistance as one of the greatest public health threats facing humanity.