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Equine veterinary journal2013; 46(2); 169-173; doi: 10.1111/evj.12131

Temporal trends in prevalence of bacteria isolated from foals with sepsis: 1979-2010.

Abstract: Sepsis is an important cause of death in foals. Knowledge of which pathogens are likely to be involved is important for selection of antimicrobial drugs for initial treatment. Objective: To identify temporal trends in prevalence of bacteria isolated from foals with sepsis between 1979 and 2010. Methods: Retrospective review of medical records. Methods: All foals ≤30 days of age presented to the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital (VMTH) at the University of California, Davis between 1979 and 2010, with a diagnosis of sepsis confirmed by culture of bacteria from blood or internal organs (antemortem or at necropsy), were included in the study. Conventional microbiological methods were used to identify isolated organisms. The Cochran-Armitage trend test was used for statistical analysis. Results: The percentage of Gram-positive isolates increased significantly over the years. The percentage Enterobacteriacea, and Klebsiella spp. in particular, decreased over time. Enterococcus spp. isolates were cultured more often in recent years. Conclusions: Whereas Gram-negative bacteria, particularly Enterobacteriaceae, remain the most common isolates from neonatal foals with sepsis, the prevalence of Gram-positive bacteria is increasing. This trend underlines the importance of including antimicrobial drugs active against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria in treatment protocols while awaiting the results of bacteriological culture and susceptibility tests. The increased prevalence of Enterococcus spp. is of concern because antimicrobial susceptibility patterns for enterococci are unpredictable and enterococci can also act as donors of antimicrobial resistance genes to other bacteria.
© 2013 EVJ Ltd.
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Publication Date: 2013-09-11 PubMed ID: 23808819DOI: 10.1111/evj.12131Google 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 study analyzes the trends in bacteria found in foals suffering from sepsis between 1979 and 2010, identifying an increase in Gram-positive bacteria, specifically Enterococcus spp., and a decrease in Enterobacteriaceae and Klebsiella spp. The trend calls for reconsidering antimicrobial treatment protocols and brings attention to the unpredictable patterns of Enterococcus, which can pass on antimicrobial resistance.

Study Context

  • The focus of the study is sepsis in foals, a significant cause of death.
  • Sepsis is a severe condition caused by the body’s response to an infection.
  • Understanding the bacteria leading to sepsis is crucial for administering proper initial antimicrobial treatment.

Methods

  • The team performed a retrospective review of medical records, examining cases between 1979 and 2010.
  • The records were from foals aged 30 days or less, presented to the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital (VMTH) at the University of California, Davis.
  • The foals included in the study were confirmed sepsis cases based on the culturing of bacteria from blood or internal organs, either while still living or at necropsy.
  • To identify bacteria, conventional microbiological methods were used, and the Cochran-Armitage trend test was used for statistical analysis.

Results

  • The study found a significant increase in the percentage of Gram-positive bacteria over the years.
  • Enterobacteriaceae and more specifically Klebsiella spp. showed a decrease over time.
  • Enterococcus spp. was increasingly present in more recent years.

Conclusions

  • The results of the study indicate that the most common bacteria found in septic foals are Gram-negative, particularly Enterobacteriaceae. However, there is a growing prevalence of Gram-positive bacteria.
  • These findings highlight the importance of revising the antimicrobial treatment protocols to include drugs active against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, while waiting for the results of bacteriological culture and susceptibility tests.
  • The increased prevalence of Enterococcus spp. is concerning due to the unpredictable patterns of susceptibility to antimicrobial drugs and its potential to pass on antimicrobial resistance genes to other bacteria.

Cite This Article

APA
Theelen MJ, Wilson WD, Edman JM, Magdesian KG, Kass PH. (2013). Temporal trends in prevalence of bacteria isolated from foals with sepsis: 1979-2010. Equine Vet J, 46(2), 169-173. https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.12131

Publication

Equine veterinary journal
ISSN: 2042-3306
NlmUniqueID: 0173320
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 46
Issue: 2
Pages: 169-173

Researcher Affiliations

Theelen, M J P
  • Department of Equine Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, The Netherlands.
Wilson, W D
    Edman, J M
      Magdesian, K G
        Kass, P H

          MeSH Terms

          • Animals
          • Animals, Newborn
          • Bacterial Infections / microbiology
          • Bacterial Infections / veterinary
          • Horse Diseases / microbiology
          • Horses
          • Retrospective Studies
          • Time Factors

          Citations

          This article has been cited 20 times.
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