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Veterinary surgery : VS2025; doi: 10.1111/vsu.14256

Influence of antimicrobial prophylaxis in horses undergoing sutured castrations.

Abstract: To investigate the influence of surgical antimicrobial prophylaxis (SAP) on complication rates and surgical site infections (SSI) in horses undergoing sutured castration in a hospital setting. Methods: Retrospective chart review of a convenience sample. Methods: A total of 220 colts and stallions admitted for sutured castration. Methods: Medical records of sutured castration were assessed for patient characteristics, perioperative and postoperative medications, and postoperative complications within 6 weeks after surgery. The effect of these variables on the occurrence of complications was analyzed using χ tests, and the association between SAP use and SSI probability was evaluated. Results: The median age of horses included in the study was 3 years (range 1-14 years), and the overall complication rate was 10.0% (22/220). Surgical antimicrobial prophylaxis was administered to 62% of the patients (136/220). There were no differences in the overall complication rates, with a 7.1% (6/84) complication rate among horses without SAP (SAP-) and an 11.8% (16/136) rate in those receiving SAP (SAP+) (p = .36). There was no association between the use of SAP and the probability of SSI, with an incidence of 3.6% in SAP- and 4.4% in SAP+ (3/84 and 6/136 respectively) (p = 1.0). Conclusions: Administering SAP did not influence the overall complication rate or the SSI rate following sutured castrations in a hospital setting. Conclusions: These findings prompt a reconsideration of the use of SAP for sutured castrations under aseptic conditions. The results may also serve as a basis for future randomized controlled trials.
© 2025 The Author(s). Veterinary Surgery published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American College of Veterinary Surgeons.
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Publication Date: 2025-03-31 PubMed ID: 40159848DOI: 10.1111/vsu.14256Google Scholar: Lookup
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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 looked into whether surgical antimicrobial prophylaxis (SAP) affects complication rates and surgical site infections in horses that have undergone sutured castration in a hospital setting. It found no significant influence of SAP on either overall complications or probability of surgical site infections.

Study Methodology

  • The study relied on a retrospective chart review of a convenience sample.
  • This included 220 colts and stallions who admitted for sutured castration.
  • For each of these cases, the medical records were reviewed for patient characteristics, perioperative and postoperative medications, and any postoperative complications within six weeks following the surgery.
  • The researchers then used the χ tests to analyze the effect of these variables on the occurrence of complications.
  • They also evaluated the association between the use of SAP and the likelihood of surgical site infections.

Study Findings

  • The median age of the horses in the study was three years, with an age range of one to 14 years.
  • The overall rate of complications stood at 10.0%, affecting 22 out of the 220 horses involved in the study.
  • SAP was administered to 62% of the patients, which encompassed 136 out of the 220 horses.
  • The study found no differences in the overall complication rates among horses with and without SAP. The complication rate was 7.1% (6 out of 84) among horses who did not receive SAP, while those who did received SAP had an 11.8% complication rate (16 out of 136).
  • The use of SAP showed no association with the likelihood of surgical site infections. The incidence of these infections was 3.6% in horses not given SAP and 4.4% in those who were.

Conclusions

  • The administering of SAP did not influence the overall complication rate or the surgical site infection rate following sutured castrations in a hospital setting.
  • These findings challenge the use of SAP for sutured castrations under aseptic conditions.
  • The results may also provide a basis for future randomized controlled trials that focus on the same topic.

Cite This Article

APA
Sjöberg I, Horn I, Ljungvall K, Andersen PH, Sternberg-Lewerin S. (2025). Influence of antimicrobial prophylaxis in horses undergoing sutured castrations. Vet Surg. https://doi.org/10.1111/vsu.14256

Publication

Veterinary surgery : VS
ISSN: 1532-950X
NlmUniqueID: 8113214
Country: United States
Language: English

Researcher Affiliations

Sjöberg, Ida
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Science (SLU), Uppsala, Sweden.
Horn, Isabella
  • Halland Animal Hospital, Slöinge, Sweden.
Ljungvall, Karl
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Science (SLU), Uppsala, Sweden.
Andersen, Pia H
  • Department of Animal Biosciences, SLU, Uppsala, Sweden.
Sternberg-Lewerin, Susanna
  • Department of Animal Biosciences, SLU, Uppsala, Sweden.

Grant Funding

  • Fakulteten fu00f6r Veterinu00e4rmedicin och Husdjursvetenskap, Sveriges Lantbruksuniversitet

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Citations

This article has been cited 1 times.
  1. Tyrnenopoulou P, Flouraki E, Folias L, Loukopoulos E, Starras A, Chalvatzis P, Tsioli V, Mavrogianni VS, Fthenakis GC. Complications Following Orchiectomy in Stallions in Field Conditions: Descriptive Results and Predictors in a Study of 612 Cases. Animals (Basel) 2026 Jan 21;16(2).
    doi: 10.3390/ani16020326pubmed: 41594514google scholar: lookup
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