Adjuvant intraperitoneal ceftriaxone in the treatment of septic peritonitis in horses.

This study investigated the efficacy of intraperitoneal administration of ceftriaxone, an antibiotic, in treating septic peritonitis in horses, and resulted in an average treatment success rate of 77 per cent.

Objective of the Study

• This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of using ceftriaxone, an antibiotic drug usually administrated via the intraperitoneal pathway, as an adjuvant therapy for treating septic peritonitis in horses. Septic peritonitis is an infection in the abdominal cavity, which can pose serious health issues for horses.

Methodology of the Study

• A total of 26 horses, diagnosed with clinical signs, sonography, and/or laboratory findings of septic peritonitis, were selected for the study.
• The horses were divided into three groups based on the origin of the infection: the first group had gastrointestinal tract injuries and abdominal surgery but without perforations/ruptures; the second group’s cause was not related to changes in the gastrointestinal tract; the third group’s peritonitis was secondary to intestinal rupture and/or fecal contamination.
• A daily dose of 25 mg/kg ceftriaxone was intraperitoneally administered, along with supportive and systemic antimicrobial treatment.
• Peritoneal fluid from each horse was collected for microbiological culture and to assess the in vitro microbial sensitivity profile.

Results of the Study

• The overall success rate of the treatment was 77 per cent, implying that approximately three out of four horses responded positively to the ceftriaxone treatment.
• The success rate in each group varied, with group 1 having an 84.6 per cent success rate, group 2 having an 87.5 per cent success rate, and group 3 having a 40 per cent success rate. Thus, the treatment was least effective in the group with peritonitis secondary to intestinal rupture and/or fecal contamination.

Conclusion of the Study

• The study indicates that intraperitoneal administration of ceftriaxone can be effectively used to treat septic peritonitis in horses. It notes this as the first study of this kind of treatment, and the promising results can be useful for informing future treatments for septic peritonitis in horses.