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Journal of veterinary internal medicine2023; 37(3); 1193-1200; doi: 10.1111/jvim.16671

Antibiograms of field and hospital acquired equine neonatal bacterial fluid cultures in the Midwestern United States: 149 samples (2007-2018).

Abstract: Contemporary data reflecting local pathogens and their antibiograms is necessary to select empirical antimicrobial therapy for equine neonates. Objective: Describe bacterial isolates associated with equine neonatal infection and their antibiograms in the Midwestern United States. An increase in gram-positive infection and antibiotic resistance compared to previous literature was expected. Methods: Data from 149 fluid samples from 133 foals <30 days of age submitted for bacterial culture between January 2007 and December 2018. Methods: A retrospective evaluation of equine neonatal fluid cultures was performed. Fluid submission type, bacterial culture and antibiogram, empirical antibiotic treatment, and foal outcome was included. Isolate susceptibility to individual antimicrobials and combination protocols relevant to equine practice were recorded. The effect of recorded variables on foal survival was evaluated using Fisher's exact or chi-squared tests. Results: Ninety bacterial isolates (78 aerobes and 12 anaerobes) were identified and gram-positive organisms predominated (n = 50/90, 56%). Greater than 70% of aerobic isolates were susceptible to ampicillin, ceftiofur, chloramphenicol, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, and all penicillin/aminopenicillin and aminoglycoside combinations. Seventy-seven (n = 81/105) percent of foals survived. Survival was associated with a negative fluid culture and was not associated with empirical antimicrobial choice. Conclusions: Gram positive and anaerobic isolates associated with equine neonatal fluid cultures exceed that of previous reports. Historical empirical antimicrobial choices for equine neonatal infection in the Midwestern United States are supported by local antibiogram results.
© 2023 The Authors. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.
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Publication Date: 2023-04-07 PubMed ID: 37029453PubMed Central: PMC10229355DOI: 10.1111/jvim.16671Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

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The research paper investigates the types of bacterial infections and their resistance to antibiotics (antibiogram) in newborn horses (equine neonates) in the Midwestern United States, based on 149 fluid samples collected between 2007 and 2018. The goal of the study was to provide current data that can inform the choice of antibiotics used for treating these infections.

Research Methodology

  • The researchers collected data from 149 fluid samples from 133 foals that were less than 30 days old. These samples were submitted for bacterial culture between January 2007 and December 2018.
  • This examination was retrospective, meaning it looked back at past data. The review considered the type of fluid submission, the bacterial culture and its susceptibilities (antibiogram), the initial (empirical) antibiotic treatment chosen, and the outcome for each foal.
  • The researchers noted the susceptibility of the bacteria (in each isolate) to various individual antimicrobials and also to combinations of them – an important detail since antimicrobials are often used together in equine medicine.
  • They then used statistical tests (Fisher’s exact or chi-squared tests) to judge the potential influence of the recorded variables on the survival of the foals.

Research Findings

  • A total of 90 bacterial isolates were identified, of which 78 were aerobic and 12 anaerobic. Gram-positive organisms were the most represented (over half of the isolates).
  • Over 70% of the aerobic isolates were susceptible to several antimicrobials, including ampicillin, ceftiofur, chloramphenicol, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, and all combinations of penicillin/aminopenicillin and aminoglycosides.
  • Of the 133 foals whose fluid samples were covered in the study, 81 (77%) survived. Having a negative fluid culture was associated with survival, while the choice of initial (empirical) antibiotic was not.

Conclusions

  • The prevalence of gram-positive and anaerobic bacteria in equine neonatal fluid cultures has exceeded that of previous reports. This indicates that these types of infections may have become more common.
  • The research supports the use of historically chosen empirical antibiotics for equine neonatal infection in the Midwestern United States, as the local pathogens were mostly susceptible to these drugs.

Cite This Article

APA
Bookbinder LC, Mani R, Carr EA. (2023). Antibiograms of field and hospital acquired equine neonatal bacterial fluid cultures in the Midwestern United States: 149 samples (2007-2018). J Vet Intern Med, 37(3), 1193-1200. https://doi.org/10.1111/jvim.16671

Publication

Journal of veterinary internal medicine
ISSN: 1939-1676
NlmUniqueID: 8708660
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 37
Issue: 3
Pages: 1193-1200

Researcher Affiliations

Bookbinder, Lauren C
  • College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA.
Mani, Rinosh
  • College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA.
Carr, Elizabeth A
  • College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Horses
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Drug Resistance, Bacterial
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests / veterinary
  • Penicillins
  • Hospitals

Conflict of Interest Statement

Authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Citations

This article has been cited 1 times.
  1. Graham AE, Colgate VA, Floyd EF. Antibiograms of Bacterial Cultures From Equine Neonates at a United Kingdom Hospital: 381 Samples (2018-2023). J Vet Intern Med 2025 Sep-Oct;39(5):e70198.
    doi: 10.1111/jvim.70198pubmed: 40802493google scholar: lookup
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