• The University of Lisbon examined samples from dogs and cats with community-acquired skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs) and urinary tract infections (UTIs), as well as their healthy owners.

• They concentrated on extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)/AmpC- and carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales, which could be transmitted from pets to their owners.

• They discovered carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales in a single dog (1 of 43 companion animals, 2.3%) in Portugal and in one dog (1 of 22, 4.5%) in the United Kingdom.

• Though researchers were unable to completely confirm the path of transmission, they believe the findings indicate that the bacteria were carried from pets to their owners. 

• Further studies in this gray area need to be done.

• These findings highlight the necessity of enrolling pet-owning households in national programmes that track antibiotic resistance.

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