Concentrations of gentamicin in serum and bronchial lavage fluid after intravenous and aerosol administration of gentamicin to horses.
Abstract: To compare concentrations of gentamicin in serum and bronchial lavage fluid after IV and aerosol administration of gentamicin to horses. Methods: 9 healthy adult horses. Methods: Gentamicin was administered by aerosolization (20 ml of gentamicin solution [50 mg/ml]) and IV injection (6.6 mg of gentamicin/kg of body weight) to each horse, with a minimum of 2 weeks between treatments. Samples of pulmonary epithelial lining fluid were collected by small volume (30 ml) bronchial lavage 0.5, 4, 8, and 24 hours after gentamicin administration. Serum samples were obtained at the same times. All samples were analyzed for gentamicin concentration, and cytologic examinations were performed on aliquots of bronchial lavage fluid collected at 0.5, 8, and 24 hours. Results: Gentamicin concentrations in bronchial lavage fluid were significantly greater 0.5, 4, and 8 hours after aerosol administration, whereas serum concentrations were significantly less at all times after aerosol administration, compared with IV administration. Neutrophil counts in bronchial lavage fluid increased from 0.5 to 24 hours, regardless of route of gentamicin administration. Conclusions: Aerosol administration of gentamicin to healthy horses resulted in gentamicin concentrations in bronchial fluid that were significantly greater than those obtained after IV administration. A mild inflammatory cell response was associated with aerosol delivery of gentamicin and repeated bronchial lavage. Aerosol administration of gentamicin may have clinical use in the treatment of bacterial bronchopneumonia in horses.
Publication Date: 2000-10-20 PubMed ID: 11039545DOI: 10.2460/ajvr.2000.61.1185Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Clinical Trial
- Journal Article
- Randomized Controlled Trial
- Research Support
- U.S. Gov't
- Non-P.H.S.
Summary
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This study is about a comparison of the levels of gentamicin, a type of antibiotic, in serum and bronchial lavage fluid of horses after administering it intravenously (IV) and via aerosol. The findings suggest that aerosol administration leads to higher concentrations of gentamicin in bronchial fluid which could be beneficial in treating bacterial bronchopneumonia in horses.
Methods
- Nine healthy adult horses were involved in the study.
- Gentamicin was given to the horses through aerosolisation, and also through an intravenous route. The same horse received both types of administration, with a minimum interval of 2 weeks between the treatments.
- The concentration of gentamicin in samples of pulmonary epithelial lining fluid and serum was measured at different time periods following the administration of the drug.
- Cell examinations were carried out on portions of the collected bronchial lavage fluid.
Results
- The bronchial lavage fluid had considerably higher concentrations of gentamicin at 0.5, 4, and 8 hours after aerosol administration, compared to the intravenous method.
- The concentration of gentamicin in the serum was notably lower at every measured time period after aerosol administration, again when compared with the intravenous method.
- The administration of the antibiotic resulted in an increase in the number of neutrophils in the bronchial lavage fluid, regardless of the administration mode.
Conclusion
- The results suggest that administering gentamicin via aerosol to healthy horses led to a significant increase in the gentamicin concentrations in bronchial fluid than when given intravenously.
- A mild inflammatory cell response was noticed in correlation with aerosol delivery of gentamicin and recurring bronchial lavage.
- The findings from this research point towards the potential use of aerosol administration of gentamicin in treating bacterial bronchopneumonia in horses.
Cite This Article
APA
McKenzie HC, Murray MJ.
(2000).
Concentrations of gentamicin in serum and bronchial lavage fluid after intravenous and aerosol administration of gentamicin to horses.
Am J Vet Res, 61(10), 1185-1190.
https://doi.org/10.2460/ajvr.2000.61.1185 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Marion duPont Scott Equine Medical Center, Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, Leesburg, VA 20177, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Administration, Inhalation
- Animals
- Anti-Bacterial Agents / administration & dosage
- Anti-Bacterial Agents / blood
- Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacokinetics
- Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / chemistry
- Cross-Over Studies
- Female
- Gentamicins / administration & dosage
- Gentamicins / blood
- Gentamicins / pharmacokinetics
- Horses / metabolism
- Injections, Intravenous / veterinary
- Male
Citations
This article has been cited 6 times.- 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.
- Morgane Canonne A, Roels E, Menard M, Desquilbet L, Billen F, Clercx C. Clinical response to 2 protocols of aerosolized gentamicin in 46 dogs with Bordetella bronchiseptica infection (2012-2018). J Vet Intern Med 2020 Sep;34(5):2078-2085.
- Toombs-Ruane LJ, Riley CB, Kendall AT, Bolwell CF, Benschop J, Rosanowski SM. Antimicrobial Susceptibilities of Aerobic Isolates from Respiratory Samples of Young New Zealand Horses. J Vet Intern Med 2015 Nov-Dec;29(6):1700-6.
- Hardefeldt L, Thomas K, Page S, Norris J, Browning G, El Hage C, Stewart A, Gilkerson J, Muscatello G, Verwilghen D, van Galen G, Bauquier J, Cuming R, Reynolds B, Whittaker C, Wilkes E, Clulow J, Burden C, Begg L. Antimicrobial prescribing guidelines for horses in Australia. Aust Vet J 2025 Dec;103(12):781-889.
- Ozcan U, Tutuncu M. The Effect of Florfenicol Given by Nebulization in the Treatment of Naturally Infected Calves With Bovine Respiratory Disease Complex: Randomized Clinical Study. Vet Med Sci 2025 Mar;11(2):e70238.
- Hallowell KL, Hepworth-Warren KL, Dembek K. An updated description of bacterial pneumonia in adult horses and factors associated with death. J Vet Intern Med 2024 Sep-Oct;38(5):2766-2775.
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