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Home / Equine Research Bank / Can Vet J / Retrospective study of perioperative antimicrobial use pract...
The Canadian veterinary journal = La revue veterinaire canadienne2009; 50(2); 185-188;

Retrospective study of perioperative antimicrobial use practices in horses undergoing elective arthroscopic surgery at a veterinary teaching hospital.

Abstract: Perioperative antimicrobial administration practices were evaluated retrospectively in 97 horses undergoing elective arthroscopy, and antimicrobial use was compared with standard recommendations for perioperative prophylaxis. Parenteral antimicrobials were administered perioperatively to 95/97 (98%) horses, 88 of which received intravenous sodium penicillin. Time from 1st dose until 1st incision ranged from 30 to 390 min [142 +/- 55.6 min, mean +/- standard deviation (s), median 135 min], and the first incision was performed greater than 2 half-lives after administration of sodium penicillin in 86/95 (91%) cases. Overall duration of therapy was 30.8 +/- 24.2 h (mean +/- s). Six (6.3%) horses received only a single preoperative dose, while 63 (66%) horses were treated for 24 h or less. While objective data regarding optimal perioperative antimicrobial prophylaxis are limited, the antimicrobial use practices observed here commonly deviated from standard recommendations for perioperative prophylaxis. Les pratiques d’administration périopératoire des antimicrobiens ont été évaluées rétrospectivement chez 97 chevaux subissant une arthroscopie non urgente et l’utilisation des antimicrobiens a été comparée aux recommandations standard pour la prophylaxie périopératoire. L’administration périopératoire d’antimicrobiens parentéraux a été effectuée pour 95/97 (98 %) chevaux, dont 88 ont reçu de la pénicilline sodique intraveineuse. Le délai écoulé entre la première dose et la première incision variait de 30 à 390 minutes (142 ± 55,6 minutes, moyenne + SD, médiane de 135 minutes) et la première incision a été réalisée à plus de deux demivies après l’administration dans 86/95 (91 %) des cas. La durée totale de la thérapie était de 30,8 ± 24,2 heures (moyenne ± SD). Six (6,2 %) chevaux ont reçu une seule dose préopératoire tandis que 63 (66 %) chevaux ont été traités pendant 24 heures ou moins. Bien que des données objectives concernant la prophylaxie périopératoire optimale soient limitées, les pratiques d’utilisation d’antimicrobiens observées ici ont couramment dévié des recommandations standard pour la prophylaxie périopératoire. (Traduit par Isabelle Vallières)
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Publication Date: 2009-05-05 PubMed ID: 19412399PubMed Central: PMC2629423
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  • Journal Article

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 study retrospectively analyzed the practice of administering antimicrobials perioperatively in 97 horses undergoing elective arthroscopy at a veterinary teaching hospital, comparing it with standard recommendations for perioperative prophylaxis.

Objective of the Research

  • The research aimed to evaluate perioperative antimicrobial administration practices (the use of antimicrobials before, during, and after surgery) in horses undergoing elective arthroscopy, which is a minimally invasive surgical procedure used to visualize, diagnose, and treat problems inside a joint. It also aimed to compare these practices with standard recommendations for perioperative prophylaxis (preventive treatment).

Methodology

  • The study is retrospective, meaning it examined past data and patient records.
  • The data for this research was sourced from 97 horses that had undergone elective arthroscopy.
  • The primary focus was on parenteral antimicrobials – drugs delivered into the body through routes other than the mouth or anus – that were administered perioperatively to these horses.
  • The study especially noted the use of intravenous sodium penicillin. The time from the first dose until the first incision, the number of horses that had their first incision performed greater than two half-lives after administration of sodium penicillin, and the overall duration of therapy were all tracked and analyzed.

Findings

  • 98% of horses were administered parenteral antimicrobials perioperatively, 88 of which received intravenous sodium penicillin.
  • The time from the first dose until the first incision ranged from 30 to 390 minutes, with a mean time of 142 minutes.
  • A majority of the cases (91%) had their first incision performed greater than two half-lives after administration of sodium penicillin.
  • The overall duration of therapy displayed considerable variation, with a mean duration of 30.8 hours.
  • Only 6.2% of horses were administered a single preoperative dose, while 66% of horses were treated for 24 hours or less.

Conclusion

  • Even though there are limited objective data regarding optimal perioperative antimicrobial prophylaxis, it was found that the antimicrobial use practices in the cases studied frequently deviated from the standard recommendations for perioperative prophylaxis.
  • The study suggests the need for revised or improved guidelines for perioperative administration of antimicrobials in veterinary practices to prevent postoperative infections and contribute to better surgical outcomes.

Cite This Article

APA
Weese JS, Cruz A. (2009). Retrospective study of perioperative antimicrobial use practices in horses undergoing elective arthroscopic surgery at a veterinary teaching hospital. Can Vet J, 50(2), 185-188.

Publication

The Canadian veterinary journal = La revue veterinaire canadienne
ISSN: 0008-5286
NlmUniqueID: 0004653
Country: Canada
Language: English
Volume: 50
Issue: 2
Pages: 185-188

Researcher Affiliations

Weese, J Scott
  • Department of Pathobiology, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada. jsweese@uoguelph.ca
Cruz, Antonio

    MeSH Terms

    • Animals
    • Anti-Bacterial Agents / administration & dosage
    • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
    • Antibiotic Prophylaxis / veterinary
    • Arthroscopy / veterinary
    • Elective Surgical Procedures / veterinary
    • Horse Diseases / prevention & control
    • Horse Diseases / surgery
    • Horses
    • Hospitals, Animal
    • Infusions, Parenteral / veterinary
    • Injections, Intravenous / veterinary
    • Penicillin G / administration & dosage
    • Penicillin G / therapeutic use
    • Perioperative Care / methods
    • Perioperative Care / veterinary
    • Postoperative Complications / prevention & control
    • Postoperative Complications / veterinary
    • Retrospective Studies

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    Citations

    This article has been cited 9 times.
    1. Otero Balda I, Fuertes-Recuero M, Penelo Hidalgo S, Espinel Rupérez J, Lapostolle B, Ayllón-Santiago T, Ortiz-Díez G. A Spanish Survey on the Perioperative Use of Antimicrobials in Small Animals. Animals (Basel) 2023 Jul 31;13(15).
      doi: 10.3390/ani13152475pubmed: 37570284google scholar: lookup
    2. Rockow M, Griffenhagen G, Landolt G, Hendrickson D, Pezzanite L. Current Antimicrobial Use in Horses Undergoing Exploratory Celiotomy: A Survey of Board-Certified Equine Specialists. Animals (Basel) 2023 Apr 22;13(9).
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    3. Scarborough RO, Sri AE, Browning GF, Hardefeldt LY, Bailey KE. 'Brave Enough': A Qualitative Study of Veterinary Decisions to Withhold or Delay Antimicrobial Treatment in Pets. Antibiotics (Basel) 2023 Mar 8;12(3).
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    4. Merchán A, Koenig J, Côté N, Cribb N, Monteith G. Fragment size is associated with post-operative complications following elective arthroscopy of the tibiotarsal joint of horses. Can Vet J 2022 Jan;63(1):74-80.
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