Serratia spp infection in 21 horses.

The research discusses the occurrence and treatment of Serratia spp infections in 21 horses observed at the University of Florida Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital over a period of 4.5 years.

Research Objectives and Setting

• The study aimed to report on cases of Serratia spp infections in horses that occurred between January 1979 and July 1983 at the University of Florida Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital.
• The researchers focused on analysing the occurrence, affected tissues, and response to treatment among infected horses.

Nature of Infections

• There were twenty-three isolations of Serratia spp from the 21 horses involved in the study.
• These Serratia spp were involved in both single-organism and mixed infections, affecting various tissues in the horses.

Outcomes and Response to Treatment

• Eight out of the 21 horses died in the course of the study, and all these horses were found to have massive, mixed, gram-negative infections.
• The remaining 13 horses responded to treatment, which included systemic antibiotic therapy.

Additional Findings

• Most of the horses in the study were under stress and had been under antibiotic therapy before the time of culture.
• The researchers noted a potential nosocomial infection, which is an infection that originates in a hospital setting.
• There were variations observed in antibiotic sensitivity among the horses, with a trend of decreasing sensitivity to antibiotics after the administration of these drugs.

Implications and Conclusions

• The study sheds light on the occurrence of Serratia spp infections in horses and their response to treatment strategies. It underlines the need for careful monitoring of horses under antibiotic therapy, given the potential for decreased sensitivity.
• The reference to potential nosocomial infection also suggests a need for improved infection control in veterinary hospital settings.