Blood culture isolates and antimicrobial sensitivities from 427 critically ill neonatal foals.
Abstract: To assist correct decision-making about antimicrobial treatment of equine neonates with septicaemia. Methods: Retrospective study of microbial blood culture results obtained from foals less than 7 days of age. Methods: Microbial blood culture results from foals less than 7 days of age admitted to an intensive care unit between July 1999 and December 2004 were reviewed. Antimicrobial sensitivity was assessed by the Kirby Bauer disc diffusion method. Antimicrobials were defined as an effective first-line choice antimicrobial if greater than 70% of isolates were susceptible. Multiple drug resistance (MDR) was defined as resistance to at least three antimicrobials in different chemical classes or with different mechanisms of resistance. Results: Of the 427 Thoroughbred foals included in the study, a positive blood culture was obtained in 110 foals and 124 microorganisms were isolated. Gram-positive isolates, predominantly Streptococcus/Enterococcus spp, were obtained in 41% of foals. Gram-negative isolates were predominantly of the Enterobacteriaceae family, in particular Escherichia coli. The overall antimicrobial sensitivity of the isolates was low. The Gram-positive organisms had unpredictable sensitivity patterns. MDR was recorded in 32% of isolates. In total, 81% of foals were discharged from hospital and 74.5% of foals with a positive blood culture were discharged. Conclusions: With the increasing prevalence of Gram-positive microorganisms and their unpredictable sensitivity patterns, blood cultures remain important in the diagnosis and treatment of equine neonatal septicaemia.
Publication Date: 2008-07-12 PubMed ID: 18616477DOI: 10.1111/j.1751-0813.2008.00311.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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The research investigates the microbial composition and drug sensitivity in infant horse blood samples over a span of 5 years, with implications for treating sepsis in newborn horses. Their findings indicate a high prevalence of Gram-positive bacteria with fluctuating sensitivity patterns, emphasizing the importance for continued blood culture testing in managing equine neonatal sepsis.
Research Methodology
- The researchers used a retrospective study design to analyze microbial blood culture results obtained from foals (newborn horses) aged less than 7 days, admitted to an intensive care unit between July 1999 and December 2004.
- The sensitivity of the microorganisms to antimicrobial drugs was assessed using the Kirby Bauer disc diffusion method, a laboratory test used to determine the effectiveness of antibiotics against a specific bacteria.
- The study defined effective first-line choice antimicrobials as those where more than 70% of isolates were susceptible. On the other hand, multiple drug resistance (MDR) was categorized as resistance to at least three antimicrobials in different chemical classes or with varied mechanisms of resistance.
Results of the Study
- From the 427 thoroughbred foals included in the study, positive blood cultures were obtained in 110 foals and 124 microorganisms were isolated.
- About 41% of the foals had Gram-positive isolates, predominantly Streptococcus/Enterococcus species. Gram-negative isolates were mostly of the Enterobacteriaceae family, particularity Escherichia coli.
- The overall antimicrobial sensitivity of the isolates was found to be low. Gram-positive organisms exhibited unpredictable sensitivity patterns.
- Multiple drug resistance (MDR) was recorded in 32% of the isolates. About 81% of the foals were discharged from the hospital and 74.5% of the foals with a positive blood culture were discharged.
Conclusion of the Study
- Given the growing prevalence of Gram-positive bacteria (with erratic sensitivity patterns), blood cultures continue to be paramount in diagnosing and treating equine neonatal septicemia, a severe illness caused by bacterial infection in the blood of newborn horses.
Cite This Article
APA
Russell CM, Axon JE, Blishen A, Begg AP.
(2008).
Blood culture isolates and antimicrobial sensitivities from 427 critically ill neonatal foals.
Aust Vet J, 86(7), 266-271.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1751-0813.2008.00311.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Scone Veterinary Hospital, 106 Liverpool Street, Scone, NSW 2337. catherinerussell@bigpond.com
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Animals, Newborn
- Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology
- Bacteria / drug effects
- Bacteria / isolation & purification
- Colony Count, Microbial / veterinary
- Critical Illness
- Decision Making
- Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
- Drug Resistance, Bacterial
- Female
- Gram-Negative Bacteria / drug effects
- Gram-Negative Bacteria / isolation & purification
- Gram-Positive Bacteria / drug effects
- Gram-Positive Bacteria / isolation & purification
- Horse Diseases / drug therapy
- Horse Diseases / microbiology
- Horses
- Male
- Microbial Sensitivity Tests / veterinary
- Retrospective Studies
- Sepsis / drug therapy
- Sepsis / microbiology
- Sepsis / veterinary
- Treatment Outcome
Citations
This article has been cited 12 times.- Scalco R, de Oliveira GN, da Rosa Curcio B, Wooten M, Magdesian KG, Hidai ST, Pandit P, Aleman M. Red blood cell distribution width to platelet ratio in neonatal foals with sepsis.. J Vet Intern Med 2023 Jul-Aug;37(4):1552-1560.
- Bookbinder LC, Mani R, Carr EA. Antibiograms of field and hospital acquired equine neonatal bacterial fluid cultures in the Midwestern United States: 149 samples (2007-2018).. J Vet Intern Med 2023 May-Jun;37(3):1193-1200.
- Gomez DE, Wong D, MacNicol J, Dembek K. The fecal bacterial microbiota of healthy and sick newborn foals.. J Vet Intern Med 2023 Jan;37(1):315-322.
- Furr M, McKenzie H 3rd. Factors associated with the risk of positive blood culture in neonatal foals presented to a referral center (2000-2014).. J Vet Intern Med 2020 Nov;34(6):2738-2750.
- Taylor S. A review of equine sepsis.. Equine Vet Educ 2015 Feb;27(2):99-109.
- Theelen MJP, Wilson WD, Byrne BA, Edman JM, Kass PH, Mughini-Gras L, Magdesian KG. Differences in isolation rate and antimicrobial susceptibility of bacteria isolated from foals with sepsis at admission and after ≥48 hours of hospitalization.. J Vet Intern Med 2020 Mar;34(2):955-963.
- Sheats MK. A Comparative Review of Equine SIRS, Sepsis, and Neutrophils.. Front Vet Sci 2019;6:69.
- Awosile BB, Heider LC, Saab ME, McClure JT. Antimicrobial resistance in bacteria isolated from horses from the Atlantic Provinces, Canada (1994 to 2013).. Can Vet J 2018 Sep;59(9):951-957.
- Wong DM, Ruby RE, Dembek KA, Barr BS, Reuss SM, Magdesian KG, Olsen E, Burns T, Slovis NM, Wilkins PA. Evaluation of updated sepsis scoring systems and systemic inflammatory response syndrome criteria and their association with sepsis in equine neonates.. J Vet Intern Med 2018 May;32(3):1185-1193.
- Adams R, Smith J, Locke S, Phillips E, Erol E, Carter C, Odoi A. An epidemiologic study of antimicrobial resistance of Staphylococcus species isolated from equine samples submitted to a diagnostic laboratory.. BMC Vet Res 2018 Feb 5;14(1):42.
- Bauquier JR, Boston RC, Sweeney RW, Wilkins PA, Nolen-Walston RD. Plasma Peak and Trough Gentamicin Concentrations in Hospitalized Horses Receiving Intravenously Administered Gentamicin.. J Vet Intern Med 2015 Nov-Dec;29(6):1660-6.
- Werners AH, Bryant CE. Pattern recognition receptors in equine endotoxaemia and sepsis.. Equine Vet J 2012 Jul;44(4):490-8.
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