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Journal of veterinary internal medicine2012; 26(6); 1449-1456; doi: 10.1111/j.1939-1676.2012.01024.x

Antimicrobial use in horses undergoing colic surgery.

Abstract: Recommendations for antimicrobial prophylaxis for surgery are well-described in human medicine, but information is limited for veterinary practice. Objective: To characterize antimicrobial use in horses undergoing emergency colic surgery. Methods: A total of 761 horses undergoing emergency colic surgery (2001-2007). Methods: Retrospective case review. Antimicrobial dose and timing, surgical description, and duration of treatment were collected from medical records. Associations between antimicrobial use and the occurrence of fever, incisional inflammation or infection, catheter-associated complications, or Salmonella shedding during hospitalization were analyzed using rank-sum methods and logistic regression. Results: A total of 511 (67.2%) horses received an inappropriate amount of drug preoperatively. Median time from preoperative dose to incision was 70 (IQR 55-90) minutes; median total surgery time was 110 (IQR 80-160) minutes. Seventy-three horses were euthanized under anesthesia because of poor prognosis. Of 688 horses, 438 should have been redosed intraoperatively based on the duration of surgery. Only 8 (1.8%) horses were redosed correctly. Horses remained on perioperative antimicrobials a median of 3 (IQR 2-4.5) days. Antimicrobial therapy was reinstituted in 193 (28.9%) horses, and median days of total treatment were 3.8 (IQR 2-6). Signs that led to reinstituting therapy were fever (OR 3.13, P = .001) and incisional inflammation/infection (OR 2.95, P = .001). Horses in which treatment was reinstituted had 2.3 greater odds of shedding Salmonella (P = .003). Increased surgical time was associated with longer duration of antimicrobial therapy (OR 1.02, P = .001). Conclusions: Despite published recommendations regarding antimicrobial prophylaxis, compliance is poor; improvement might reduce postoperative complications.
Copyright © 2012 by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.
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Publication Date: 2012-11-22 PubMed ID: 23167747DOI: 10.1111/j.1939-1676.2012.01024.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research article explores how antibiotics are used in horses going through emergency colic surgery, finding that many were given incorrect preoperative doses and that an improvement in compliance with guidelines could lead to less post-operative complications.

Article Overview

This research focuses on the evaluation of antibiotics use in horses that undergo emergency colic surgery. The study aims to figure out if the inconsistencies in administering antibiotics could be linked to post-surgery complications such as fever, inflammation, infection, catheter-related problems, or Salmonella transmission during the hospitalization period.

Methodology

  • The study involves retrospective case reviews of medical records from 761 horses that underwent emergency colic surgery between the years 2001 to 2007.
  • Key data collected includes the dosage and timing of antibiotics administration, surgical duration, and duration of treatment.
  • A statistical approach was used, employing rank-sum methods and logistic regression to analyze the relationship between antimicrobial usage and the occurrence of postoperative complications.

Findings

  • The results reveal that 67.2% of the horses were administered an inappropriate dosage of antibiotics before surgery.
  • The average time from when the antibiotic was given till the incision was around 70 minutes; the median total surgery time was 110 minutes.
  • Among the surveyed horses, 438 of them should have been given the antibiotic again during surgery based on its duration, but only 1.8% were redosed effectively.
  • Horses typically remained on antibiotics for about 3 days after operation.
  • It was found that treatment was reinstated in 28.9% of the horses with the primary symptoms being fever and inflammation or infection of the surgical wound.
  • Treatment reinstated horses had 2.3 times higher chance of Salmonella shedding, and an increased surgical time was linked to longer durations of antimicrobial therapy.

Conclusion

The findings of the study suggest a general non-compliance with prescribed guidelines on administering antibiotics in horses undergoing colic surgery. Greater attention to these protocols could possibly bring about a significant reduction in post-surgery complications. The research indicates the need for better antibiotic prophylaxis for such veterinary practices.

Cite This Article

APA
Dallap Schaer BL, Linton JK, Aceto H. (2012). Antimicrobial use in horses undergoing colic surgery. J Vet Intern Med, 26(6), 1449-1456. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1939-1676.2012.01024.x

Publication

Journal of veterinary internal medicine
ISSN: 1939-1676
NlmUniqueID: 8708660
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 26
Issue: 6
Pages: 1449-1456

Researcher Affiliations

Dallap Schaer, B L
  • Department of Clinical Studies New Bolton Center, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, Kennett Square, PA 19348, USA. bldallap@vet.upenn.edu
Linton, J K
    Aceto, H

      MeSH Terms

      • Animals
      • Anti-Bacterial Agents / administration & dosage
      • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
      • Bacterial Infections / prevention & control
      • Bacterial Infections / veterinary
      • Colic / surgery
      • Colic / veterinary
      • Horse Diseases / prevention & control
      • Horse Diseases / surgery
      • Horses
      • Perioperative Care / veterinary
      • Postoperative Complications / prevention & control
      • Postoperative Complications / veterinary
      • Retrospective Studies

      Citations

      This article has been cited 12 times.
      1. Merle R, Feuer L, Frenzer K, Plenio JL, Bethe A, Sarnino N, Lübke-Becker A, Bäumer W. Antibiotic Use in Horses: Analysis of 57 German Veterinary Practices (2018-2023). Antibiotics (Basel) 2025 Sep 19;14(9).
        doi: 10.3390/antibiotics14090953pubmed: 41009931google scholar: lookup
      2. Kauter A, Brombach J, Lübke-Becker A, Kannapin D, Bang C, Franzenburg S, Stoeckle SD, Mellmann A, Scherff N, Köck R, Guenther S, Wieler LH, Gehlen H, Semmler T, Wolf SA, Walther B. Antibiotic prophylaxis and hospitalization of horses subjected to median laparotomy: gut microbiota trajectories and abundance increase of Escherichia. Front Microbiol 2023;14:1228845.
        doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1228845pubmed: 38075913google scholar: lookup
      3. Rockow M, Griffenhagen G, Landolt G, Hendrickson D, Pezzanite L. The Effects of Antimicrobial Protocols and Other Perioperative Factors on Postoperative Complications in Horses Undergoing Celiotomy: A Retrospective Analysis, 2008-2021. Animals (Basel) 2023 Nov 19;13(22).
        doi: 10.3390/ani13223573pubmed: 38003189google scholar: lookup
      4. Rockow M, Griffenhagen G, Landolt G, Hendrickson D, Pezzanite L. Current Antimicrobial Use in Horses Undergoing Exploratory Celiotomy: A Survey of Board-Certified Equine Specialists. Animals (Basel) 2023 Apr 22;13(9).
        doi: 10.3390/ani13091433pubmed: 37174470google scholar: lookup
      5. Grimwood K, Lancaster B, Handel I. Factors Affecting Weigh Tape Reading in the Measurement of Equine Body Weight. Animals (Basel) 2023 Apr 13;13(8).
        doi: 10.3390/ani13081330pubmed: 37106893google scholar: lookup
      6. Marshall K, Marsella R. Evolution of the Prevalence of Antibiotic Resistance to Staphylococcus spp. Isolated from Horses in Florida over a 10-Year Period. Vet Sci 2023 Jan 18;10(2).
        doi: 10.3390/vetsci10020071pubmed: 36851375google scholar: lookup
      7. Gandini M, Cerullo A, Franci P, Giusto G. Changes in Perioperative Antimicrobial and Anti-Inflammatory Drugs Regimens for Colic Surgery in Horses: A Single Center Report. Vet Sci 2022 Oct 4;9(10).
        doi: 10.3390/vetsci9100546pubmed: 36288159google scholar: lookup
      8. Stöckle SD, Kannapin DA, Kauter AML, Lübke-Becker A, Walther B, Merle R, Gehlen H. A Pilot Randomised Clinical Trial Comparing a Short-Term Perioperative Prophylaxis Regimen to a Long-Term Standard Protocol in Equine Colic Surgery. Antibiotics (Basel) 2021 May 16;10(5).
        doi: 10.3390/antibiotics10050587pubmed: 34065712google scholar: lookup
      9. Kauter A, Epping L, Ghazisaeedi F, Lübke-Becker A, Wolf SA, Kannapin D, Stoeckle SD, Semmler T, Günther S, Gehlen H, Walther B. Frequency, Local Dynamics, and Genomic Characteristics of ESBL-Producing Escherichia coli Isolated From Specimens of Hospitalized Horses. Front Microbiol 2021;12:671676.
        doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.671676pubmed: 33936023google scholar: lookup
      10. Ceriotti S, Westerfeld R, Bonilla AG, Pang DSJ. Use of Clinical Audits to Evaluate Timing of Preoperative Antimicrobials in Equine Surgery at a Veterinary Teaching Hospital. Front Vet Sci 2021;8:630111.
        doi: 10.3389/fvets.2021.630111pubmed: 33842572google scholar: lookup
      11. Redpath A, Hallowell GD, Bowen IM. Use of aminoglycoside antibiotics in equine clinical practice; a questionnaire-based study of current use. Vet Med Sci 2021 Mar;7(2):279-288.
        doi: 10.1002/vms3.382pubmed: 33099884google scholar: lookup
      12. Guardabassi L, Apley M, Olsen JE, Toutain PL, Weese S. Optimization of Antimicrobial Treatment to Minimize Resistance Selection. Microbiol Spectr 2018 May;6(3).
        doi: 10.1128/microbiolspec.ARBA-0018-2017pubmed: 29932044google scholar: lookup
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