Nosocomial infections and bacterial antibiotic resistance in a university equine hospital.

This research documents a study on the spread of drug-resistant bacterial infections in a university equine hospital. Findings showed that nearly 22% of the horses studied developed hospital-acquired infections, showing high resistance to the most frequently prescribed antibiotics. Another part of the study found a significant increase in antibiotic resistance in bacteria in the horses’ intestines during their hospital stay.

Objective of the Study

• This research was conducted to understand the level of multiresistant nosocomial (hospital-acquired) infections in horses caused by gram-negative aerobic bacteria, excluding Salmonella spp.
• The study aimed to establish a baseline of bacteria prevalence among horses admitted to the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital over six months.

Findings and Analysis

• Out of the 105 horses from which cultures and sensitivities were obtained, it was found that 21.9% had developed nosocomial gram-negative aerobic infections.
• These infections exhibited high resistance rates to gentamicin, kanamycin, and trimethoprim sulfadiazine, three antibiotics that are most often prescribed in the subject hospital.

Prospective Study on Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria

• A subsequent part of the study focused on antibiotic-resistant bacteria of fecal origin, intending to find out if there was a change in the degree of antibiotic resistance in a horse’s gut bacteria during its hospitalization.
• The researchers isolated and tested gram-negative lactose fermenting bacteria from fecal specimens on the first and seventh day of a horse’s hospital stay.

Conclusion of the Study

• The study found significantly higher antibiotic resistance in bacteria (Escherichia coli and Klebsiella sp) collected on the seventh day compared to those collected on the first day. This indicated that the horse’s intestinal flora’s antibiotic resistance increased during hospitalization.