Bacterial translocation in horses with colic and the potential association with surgical site infection: a pilot study.

This study investigates the occurrence of bacterial translocation in horses suffering from acute colic, and its potential correlation with surgical site infection (SSI), following emergency exploratory laparotomy. However, no association could be identified between bacterial translocation and the development of SSI.

Introduction and Objective of the Study

• The research in discussion is an observational study aimed at exploring the occurrence of bacterial translocation in horses experiencing acute colic and the potential association with surgical site infection (SSI) following emergency exploratory laparotomy.
• SSIs are a major cause of morbidity in horses who undergo this emergency procedure, and this study seeks to understand the mechanisms behind this development.

Methods and Materials

• Peripheral venous blood (PVB) and peritoneal fluid (PF) samples were collected from horses presenting with acute colic on admission and at the end of surgery.
• The research also included collection and analysis of any discharge from the laparotomy incision in horses that developed SSI.
• All collected samples were submitted for detailed bacterial culture to determine the presence of bacterial translocation.

Results and Analysis

• The analysis showed that 7.7 per cent of PVB samples (3 out of 39), 11.8 per cent (4 out of 34) of admission PF samples and 8.7 per cent (2 out of 23) of the PF samples at surgery were culture positive i.e., they tested positive for bacterial presence.
• The prevalence of SSI was noted to be 10.2 per cent amongst the studied cases.

Conclusion and Recommendations

• While the study does confirm that bacterial translocation can occur in some horses with acute colic, it found no evidence supporting a correlation between bacterial translocation and the development of SSIs after emergency exploratory laparotomy.
• The exact mechanism behind the development of SSI in these cases remains unclear, indicating further research is needed in this area to delineate the underlying causes and propose effective preventative measures.