I wonder if the canine MRSP is zoonotic.
That's a really good question. From what I've read, there is a small zoonotic possibility, but the risk is lower for people from this one compared to MRSA. This document is very helpful:
http://www.wormsandgermsblog.com/files/2008/04/JSW-MA3-MRSP-Owner.pdf
With
any major staph infection in a dog (even non-MR), our vet worries about zoonotic possibility. When we had young kids in the foster home of the dog who had the worst staph skin staph infection we've ever seen, the vet recommended some precautions: bathe the dog outside with the hose, not in the shower; separate the dog's living area from the part of the house where the kids spend most of their time, etc. I think the foster mom was even washing her hands in chlorhex shampoo after handling the dog until we it was all under control. She also was wiping his face and ears daily with chlorhex wipes (KEPT WELL AWAY FROM HIS EYES!!!!), as he had infection there too.
I also just remembered we once had one very old dog in rescue with MRSP in her ears (chronic, recurring ear infections). We took her in for "fospice"--she was ancient. Over several months, we figured out she had a food allergy that made her susceptible to opportunistic germs when her system got inflamed. After we cultured the recurring ear infection, identified an appropriate antibiotic that worked, knocked the infection out finally, and got her on an suitable diet (fish and sweet potato LID)....she was cured. She was in such bad shape that we had only expected her to live a short time....she had a different plan and turned out to be an Energizer bunny that kept on ticking quite a long time, once she got healthy.
OP, you might consider messaging Carmspack for advice about getting your dog's immune system stronger, while you combat the active infection. Everything I've read (and my experience with rescue dogs with major skin infections) suggests there's an underlying problem that weakens the dog and allows the staph to invade the skin. Sometimes, it's a long-term, low-grade food allergy that's trashing the immune system; sometimes it's stress from something in the environment (for us in rescue, that's starvation, being stray, abusive owners....all the horrors that lead dogs into rescue...for an owned pet dog, it might be something more benign like a move, being boarded, etc.). There's likely
something underlying this. If my guess is right, it's not just a matter of treating the infection with your vet (
which absolutely has to be done!!!!), but figuring out the source of systemic stress that allowed it in (and maybe
keeps allowing it in, given the recurring lesions you are seeing).