Topic:Penicillin
Penicillin is a widely used antibiotic in equine medicine, primarily employed to treat bacterial infections in horses. It functions by inhibiting the synthesis of bacterial cell walls, thereby preventing bacterial growth and proliferation. Penicillin is effective against a range of gram-positive and some gram-negative bacteria, making it a common choice for treating conditions such as respiratory infections, skin infections, and soft tissue infections in horses. The administration of penicillin can be oral, injectable, or intramuscular, depending on the specific formulation and the clinical scenario. This page compiles peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore the pharmacokinetics, efficacy, and safety of penicillin use in equine patients, as well as its role in managing bacterial infections in horses.
Postoperative infection with Actinobacillus spp in horses: 10 cases (1995-2000). To determine features of postoperative wound infection caused by Actinobacillus spp in horses undergoing clean, elective surgery and to evaluate bacterial susceptibility profiles of bacteria isolated. Methods: Retrospective study. Methods: 10 horses. Methods: Data were retrieved from medical records and the microbiology laboratory database. Results: 1,604 horses underwent clean, elective surgical procedures during the study period. Of these, 23 (1.43%) had postoperative wound infections, and Actinobacillus spp was isolated from 10 of these 23 (43%). Surgical procedures in these 10 horses inclu...
Association of disease with isolation and virulence of Rhodococcus equi from farm soil and foals with pneumonia. To determine whether isolation and virulence of Rhodococcus equi from soil and infected foals are associated with clinical disease. Methods: Cross-sectional and case-control study. Methods: R equi isolates from 50 foals with pneumonia and soil samples from 33 farms with and 33 farms without a history of R equi infection (affected and control, respectively). Methods: R equi was selectively isolated from soil samples. Soil and clinical isolates were evaluated for virulence-associated protein antigen plasmids (VapA-P) and resistance to the beta-lactam antibiotics penicillin G and cephalothin. Mic...
[Animal bites at the casualty department of the Oslo City Council]. During a 2-year period all Casualty Department data charts with the diagnosis "animal bite" were reviewed as part of internal quality control. Of 1,051 recorded episodes, 503 (48%) were women and 147 (14%) children under 16 years of age. 951 (90%) wounds were treated without closure. Half of the patients were not given antibiotics on the first visit, whereas one third were given penicillin. Tetanus status had been evaluated on 1,015 (97%) charts. Most bites were caused by dogs (76%), cats (17%), and horses (2%). Children were the victims of 118 (15%) dog bites, eight (4%) cat bites, and ten (5...
[Characterization of Rhodococcus equi isolates from horse and man]. In the present investigation 19 and 22 R. equi-cultures isolated from diseased horses and humans, respectively, could be correctly identified by their morphological, biochemical and serological properties. The rod-coccus life cycle appeared to be a common feature of almost all cultures investigated. The cultures were typeable with the typing system described by Prescott (1981). The predominant serotypes among the R. equi-isolates belonged to serotypes 1 and 2. Among the R. equi-isolates from horses haemagglutination-positive cultures were mainly found among isolates of serotype 1, those of ser...
Antibiotic prophylaxis of lower respiratory tract contamination in horses confined with head elevation for 24 or 48 hours. To evaluate the administration of procaine penicillin prior to or during confinement with head elevation as a means of reducing the associated accumulation of inflammatory lower respiratory tract secretions and increased numbers of bacteria within the lower respiratory tract of confined horses. Methods: Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the efficacy of different dose rates and dosing frequencies. In experiment A a single low dose (15,000 IU/kg) of procaine penicillin was administered to four horses immediately prior to confinement with head elevation for 48 hours. The systemic leucocy...
[Septic arthritis of the hoof joint in the horse–diagnosis, radiologic changes and therapy]. A retrospective study (1984-1994) was made of 10 cases of septic arthritis of the distal interphalangeal joint in horses aged 7 months to 17 years. In 6 cases a hind limb was affected, in 4 cases a front limb. The arthritis was caused either by a puncture wound in the sole area (8 cases), by a perforating wound in the coronary region (1) or iatrogenic (1). All horses exhibited a severe lameness at the walk. Radiography showed no typical lesions in fresh cases, whilst later an increasing subluxation of the joint was observed followed by periosteal reactions. Therapy included partial resection o...
Disposition of penicillin G sodium following intravenous and oral administration to Equidae. The present study was designed to determine and compare the plasma disposition and pharmacokinetics of penicillin G sodium following intravenous (i.v.) administration to horses, ponies and donkeys. The plasma disposition and pharmacokinetics of penicillin G was similar in horses, ponies and donkeys (elimination half-lives--39.0, 27.3 and 31.5 min, respectively) and a dosage interval of 6-8 h would be suitable to treat infections caused by susceptible bacteria. Although penicillin G was absorbed rapidly following nasogastric administration, the systemic availability was low (0.12-0.34%), theref...
Retropharyngeal lymph node infection in horses: 46 cases (1977-1992). A retrospective study of 46 horses with retropharyngeal lymph node (RPLN) infection presented to the Rural Veterinary Centre between 1977 and 1992 was undertaken. Horses aged less than one year were most commonly represented (46%). Thirty-nine percent of cases had been exposed to horses with confirmed or suspected strangles (Streptococcus equi subsp equi infection) within the previous 8 weeks. Most frequent signs were unilateral or bilateral swelling of the throat region (65%), respiratory stertor/dyspnoea (35%), purulent nasal discharge (20%), inappetence and signs of depression (15%), and dy...
Peritonitis associated with Actinobacillus equuli in horses: 15 cases (1982-1992). Peritonitis attributable to Actinobacillus equuli was diagnosed in 15 horses examined at the veterinary center between 1982 and 1992. In 13 horses, historical findings included acute onset of mild to severe signs of abdominal pain, lethargy, and inappetence. Two other horses had a history of weight loss for 3 to 6 weeks prior to examination. Diagnosis was based on the physical signs and laboratory findings, including results of peritoneal fluid analysis (gross characteristics, total protein, total and differential nucleated cell counts, and morphologic findings) and culture of A equuli. Actino...
Penicillin-induced immune-mediated hemolytic anemia in a horse. A 5-year-old female American Quarter Horse was determined to have immune-mediated hemolytic anemia after detection of a positive response to a direct Coombs' test. Penicillin-induced immune-mediated hemolytic anemia was confirmed via a direct antiglobulin test, using penicillin-coated RBC. The horse was clinically improved and the anemia resolved in response to supportive care and discontinuation of penicillin treatment. Penicillin should be considered a possible cause of immune-mediated hemolytic anemia in horses.
Tracheal obstruction from tracheal collapse associated with pneumonia in a horse. A 20-month-old Quarter Horse stallion was admitted for evaluation of labored breathing, honking cough, and bilateral epistaxis that were caused by pneumonia and collapsed trachea. A transtracheal aspiration revealed highly cellular, serosanguineous fluid. Radiography revealed a patchy alveolar pattern and a narrowed tracheal lumen. Endoscopy confirmed narrowing of the tracheal lumen. Streptococcus zooepidemicus was isolated on culture of the transtracheal aspirate. The horse responded to penicillin treatment, and the tracheal collapse improved endoscopically after 4 days, with complete recover...
Plasma elimination and urinary excretion of procaine after administration of different products to standardbred mares. Plasma and urinary concentrations of procaine were examined in Standardbred mares after subcutaneous administration of various doses (80 mg to 1600 mg) of procaine hydrochloride. Regardless of dose, peak plasma procaine values occurred within 1 h, but remained detectable in a dose-dependent manner, with procaine present at 1 h with the 80 mg dose and 6 h at the 1600 mg dose. Similarly, peak urinary procaine concentrations were attained within 1.5 to 3 h, irrespective of dose, while detection time was dose-dependent, being 23 h for 80-200 mg doses but as long as 30-54 h with the 1600 mg dose. W...
Penicillin-induced hemolytic anemia and acute hepatic failure following treatment of tetanus in a horse. Acute, severe hemolytic anemia occurred in a horse being treated for tetanus with intravenous penicillin and tetanus antitoxin. During treatment, the horse developed a positive direct antiglobulin test and a high titer (maximum 1:1024) of IgG anti-penicillin antibody. The horse recovered from the tetanus and penicillin induced hemolytic anemia, but later developed acute hepatic failure, probably resulting from the administration of equine origin tetanus antitoxin.
The effect of phenylbutazone on the plasma disposition of penicillin G in the horse. A pilot study in two ponies showed that the plasma concentrations of intramuscularly administered procaine penicillin were higher if phenylbutazone was administered concurrently. In two other trials, each involving five horses, intravenous sodium penicillin was administered with and without concurrent intravenously injected phenylbutazone, and procaine penicillin was injected intramuscularly with and without oral phenylbutazone. In both cases the plasma concentrations of penicillin were higher when phenylbutazone was given. The pharmacokinetic parameters indicated that the effect was probably ...
Pharmacokinetics of amikacin in critically ill neonatal foals treated for presumed or confirmed sepsis. Fourteen foals less than four days of age were treated with the aminoglycoside, amikacin sulphate, and either penicillin or ampicillin for septicaemia, pneumonia, and/or failure of passive immunoglobulin transfer. Serum amikacin concentrations were determined at three times during an 8 or 12 h dosing interval. A 7.0 mg/kg bodyweight dose of amikacin every 8 h was appropriate. Prematurity did not influence mortality. All seven premature foals survived, whereas four of the seven full term foals died. Uraemia in three foals was caused by urinary bladder rupture; amikacin-induced nephrotoxicity wa...
Treatment of bacterial endocarditis in a horse. Using echocardiography, mitral valve bacterial endocarditis was diagnosed in a yearling Thoroughbred filly with a history of periodic fever and intermittent hind limb lameness. Streptococcus sp were isolated from blood, and the filly was treated with penicillin, resulting in a bacteriologic cure. Severe mitral regurgitation developed secondary to scarring of the valve, which resulted in the filly's death. A poor prognosis usually is indicated in horses with bacterial endocarditis, as bacteriologic cures are infrequent and severe valvular insufficiency often develops.
Adverse reaction to procaine penicillin G in horses. Adverse reactions to intramuscular injections of procaine penicillin G are reported in 11 horses, five of which died. The clinical findings are presented and suggest central nervous involvement in most cases. Post mortem findings in one horse were consistent with anaphylaxis whereas in other cases the clinical findings, duration of treatment, speed of onset and subsequent completion of treatment supports diagnosis of an acute procaine toxicity syndrome.
[The diagnosis of morbus maculosus in horses]. This is a review on Morbus maculosus equorum (purpura haemorrhagica) on the base of literature data and of a case report on 13 own patients. It is shown, that the clinical picture of this disease has not changed within the last 150 years. Clinical main symptoms are haemorrhagic diathesis (petechiae, ecchymosis, suggillations) as well as peripheral edema and fever. The main haematological findings are neutrophilia, mostly going along with shift to the left and lymphopenia. In the last few years thrombocytopenia was also described in some cases. Basic therapeutics are glucocorticoids and penicil...
Rhodococcus equi pneumonia in 48 foals: response to antimicrobial therapy. Case records of 48 foals with pneumonia due to Rhodococcus equi were reviewed. Twenty of the 48 foals survived and 28 died or were euthanized. There was no significant difference between the survivors and non-survivors in the age of onset of illness, duration of illness prior to admission, the mean white blood cell (WBC) count, or the mean plasma fibrinogen content. All foals had R. equi isolated from a tracheobronchial aspirate or lung specimens obtained at necropsy. All organisms were susceptible in vitro (Kirby-Bauer) to erythromycin and gentamicin. Susceptibilities to other drugs were: tri...
Botulism as a sequel to open castration in a horse. Clostridium botulinum and type-B C botulinum toxin were isolated from a necrotic wound that developed subsequent to castration in a 2-year-old Thoroughbred gelding. The horse had clinical signs of botulism and was successfully treated with wound debridement, C botulinum type-B antitoxin, potassium penicillin, and supportive care.
Immune-mediated hemolytic anemia induced by penicillin in horses. Three horses developed severe, immune-mediated hemolytic anemia after treatment with penicillin. The horses had positive direct antiglobulin (Coombs) tests and high titers of IgG antibody that agglutinated penicillin-coated equine red cells. Two of the horses were tested for antibodies to autologous red cell antigens; autoantibodies were not present. Titers of antipenicillin antibody decreased after penicillin was discontinued but IgG antibody was detectable months after recovery. One of the horses was challenged with penicillin; antibody titer increased slightly, but anemia did not develop. A...
Effect of the injection site on the pharmacokinetics of procaine penicillin G in horses. The plasma penicillin concentrations were determined in 5 horses given an IV injection of sodium penicillin G; plasma penicillin concentrations were also determined in a crossover experiment, where animals were given procaine penicillin G subcutaneously at 1 site and IM at 4 sites. The mean penicillin plasma peak concentration and bioavailability were highest after the drug was injected in the neck and biceps musculature. Injections in the gluteal muscle and in the subcutaneous sites resulted in similar, but lower, more persistent penicillin plasma concentrations and a lower bioavailability th...
[Etiology and chemotherapy of suppurative surgical infection in horses and cattle]. A total of 24 horses and 42 cattle with a variety of local suppurative processes (wounds, abscesses, phlegmons, tendovaginitis, etc.) were studied under conditions of the clinic with regard to the most commonly found microbial species and the opportunity to work out antibioticogrammes in terms of the effectiveness of 11 of the chemotherapeutic agents widely used in the practice. It was found that prevailing in horses were staphylococci and streptococci. In cattle Corynebacterium pyogenes was predominantly established. Besides, there was a rising trend in the part played by representative agent...
Treatment of Corynebacterium equi pneumonia of foals: a review. Combined antimicrobial drug treatment was recommended for foals with Corynebacterium equi pneumonia. The preferred combination is orally administered erythromycin estolate (25 mg/kg of body weight, QID) plus rifampin (10 mg/kg, BID). Erythromycin estolate also can be combined for synergistic effect with sodium benzyl penicillin given IV (100,000 IU/kg, QID) or with ampicillin given IV (11 to 15 mg/kg, QID). A third choice is sodium benzyl penicillin IV with gentamicin IM (2.2 mg/kg, TID) or with kanamycin IM (10 mg/kg, QID). Gentamicin should be combined with penicillin G or ampicillin and not...
Nutritionally variant streptococci from corneal ulcers in horses. Of 24 isolates of nutritionally variant streptococci recovered from equine corneal ulcers, 22 were tested for growth requirements, physiological and biochemical reactions, and susceptibility to different antimicrobial agents. Satisfactory growth was obtained by supplementing blood agar and Todd-Hewitt broth with pyridoxal hydrochloride, and all of the media for the culture and the biochemical testing were supplemented with 0.002% of this substance. Biochemical patterns of 12 of the isolates resembled those of two viridans streptococcal species, Streptococcus intermedius and Streptococcus const...
The effects of combinations of selected antibiotics on the growth of Corynebacterium equi. The minimal inhibitory concentrations of penicillin G, ampicillin, gentamicin, erythromycin and rifampicin were determined for nine strains of Corynebacterium equi. The effect of combinations of any two of these antibiotics on the killing of these strains was determined at antibiotic concentrations achievable in horses using recommended drug dosages (ampicillin 4.0 microgram/ml, gentamicin 1.0 microgram/ml using recommended drug dosages (ampicillin 4.0 microgram/ml, gentamicin 1.0 microgram/ml and erythromycin 0.25 microgram/ml). Penicillin G was used at 4.0 microgram/ml and rifampicin at 0.06...