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Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association2015; 246(7); 785-793; doi: 10.2460/javma.246.7.785

Bacterial isolates, antimicrobial susceptibility patterns, and factors associated with infection and outcome in foals with septic arthritis: 83 cases (1998-2013).

Abstract: To determine clinical characteristics, clinicopathologic data, and bacterial culture and antimicrobial susceptibility results associated with septic arthritis in foals ≤ 180 days old. Methods: Retrospective case series. Methods: 83 foals with septic arthritis. Methods: Medical records at 2 teaching hospitals between 1998 and 2013 were searched to identify those for foals ≤ 180 days old with confirmed infection of ≥ 1 synovial structure. Data extracted from the records included signalment, clinicopathologic information, bacteriologic culture and antimicrobial susceptibility results, and outcome. Data were analyzed for all foals as a single population and for foals stratified into 3 age groups (≤ 7 days, 8 to 30 days, and 31 to 180 days). Results: Mean ± SD age of all foals was 18.2 ± 25 days (range, 0 to 180 days). The median number of joints affected per foal was 2 (range, 1 to 10 joints). Forty-seven of 83 (56.6%) foals survived to discharge from the hospital. Seventy antemortem synovial fluid samples underwent bacteriologic culture, of which 60 (85.7%) yielded growth. Of the 72 bacterial isolates identified, 45 (62.5%) were gram negative and 27 (375%) were gram positive. Survival rate was positively associated with plasma fibrinogen concentration and negatively associated with number of affected joints. Conclusions: Results indicated the frequency with which certain bacterial agents were isolated from septic joints, which may be beneficial for the empirical treatment of septic arthritis in foals. Also, the positive association between survival rate and plasma fibrinogen concentration may have prognostic value in a clinical setting.
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Publication Date: 2015-03-21 PubMed ID: 25794129DOI: 10.2460/javma.246.7.785Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

Summary

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The research investigates the factors affecting infection and outcomes in foals (horses under six months) with septic arthritis, utilizing data from clinical characteristics, bacteriologic culture, and antimicrobial susceptibility results.

Research Methodology

  • The researchers conducted a retrospective case study of 83 foals diagnosed with septic arthritis. The study population consisted of foals up to 180 days old.
  • Data was gathered from medical records at two teaching hospitals over a period of 15 years, from 1998 to 2013.
  • Key information extracted from the records involved the foal’s clinical details, bacteriological culture and antimicrobial susceptibility results, and outcomes after treatment.
  • The data was then analyzed both for the entire foal population and with the subjects broken down into three different age groups: less than or equal to 7 days, 8 to 30 days, and 31 to 180 days old.

Research Findings

  • The average age of the foals was around 18.2 days. The study found that each foal had an average of two joints affected by the disease.
  • The overall survival rate reported was 56.6%, with 47 of the 83 foals surviving to be discharged from the hospital.
  • Out of 70 pre-death synovial fluid samples cultured for bacterial growth, about 85.7% resulted in growth. Among the bacteria identified, 62.5% were gram-negative, and 37.5% were gram-positive.
  • The researchers found that the foals’ survival rate had a positive correlation with their plasma fibrinogen concentration and a negative relationship with the number of affected joints.

Conclusions

  • The study identified the common bacterial agents in septic joints, which could help guide empirical treatment strategies for septic arthritis in foals.
  • The findings suggested a prospective prognostic value for plasma fibrinogen concentration in clinical settings based on its positive association with survival rates.

Cite This Article

APA
Hepworth-Warren KL, Wong DM, Fulkerson CV, Wang C, Sun Y. (2015). Bacterial isolates, antimicrobial susceptibility patterns, and factors associated with infection and outcome in foals with septic arthritis: 83 cases (1998-2013). J Am Vet Med Assoc, 246(7), 785-793. https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.246.7.785

Publication

Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association
ISSN: 1943-569X
NlmUniqueID: 7503067
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 246
Issue: 7
Pages: 785-793

Researcher Affiliations

Hepworth-Warren, Kate L
  • Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011.
Wong, David M
    Fulkerson, Caroline V
      Wang, Chong
        Sun, Yaxuan

          MeSH Terms

          • Aging
          • Animals
          • Arthritis, Infectious / microbiology
          • Arthritis, Infectious / mortality
          • Arthritis, Infectious / therapy
          • Arthritis, Infectious / veterinary
          • Bacteria / drug effects
          • Bacteria / isolation & purification
          • Bacterial Infections / microbiology
          • Bacterial Infections / mortality
          • Bacterial Infections / therapy
          • Bacterial Infections / veterinary
          • Drug Resistance, Bacterial
          • Horse Diseases / microbiology
          • Horse Diseases / mortality
          • Horse Diseases / pathology
          • Horse Diseases / therapy
          • Horses
          • Retrospective Studies

          Citations

          This article has been cited 6 times.
          1. Ruocco NA 3rd, Luedke LK, Fortier LA, Ducharme NG, Reesink HL. Rhodococcus equi Joint Sepsis and Osteomyelitis Is Associated With a Grave Prognosis in Foals. Front Vet Sci 2019;6:503.
            doi: 10.3389/fvets.2019.00503pubmed: 31993449google scholar: lookup
          2. 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
          3. Khatibzadeh SM, Dahlgren LA, Caswell CC, Ducker WA, Werre SR, Bogers SH. Equine bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stromal cells reduce established S. aureus and E. coli biofilm matrix in vitro. PLoS One 2024;19(10):e0312917.
            doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0312917pubmed: 39480794google scholar: lookup
          4. Jimenez Rihuete P, Martin C, Villarino NF, Rubio-Martínez LM. Effect of silica-sprayed collection tubes on synovial fluid bacterial culture. Vet Med Sci 2024 Jul;10(4):e1501.
            doi: 10.1002/vms3.1501pubmed: 38923315google scholar: lookup
          5. Paegelow JL, Schoonover MJ, Young JM, Maxwell LK, Taylor JD, Gilliam LL, Holbrook TC. Pharmacokinetics of amikacin after intravenous, intra-articular, and combined intravenous and intra-articular administration in healthy neonatal foals. J Vet Intern Med 2024 May-Jun;38(3):1825-1834.
            doi: 10.1111/jvim.17087pubmed: 38647141google scholar: lookup
          6. Tuek-Um S, Yangtara S, Surachetpong W, Kaewmongkol S, Kaewmongkol G, Thengchaisri N. Bacterial DNA and osteoarthritis in dogs with patellar luxation and cranial cruciate ligament rupture. Vet World 2023 Oct;16(10):2049-2054.
            doi: 10.14202/vetworld.2023.2049-2054pubmed: 38023283google scholar: lookup
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