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Home / Equine Research Bank / Can J Vet Res / Vancomycin for the treatment of methicillin-resistant staphy...
Canadian journal of veterinary research = Revue canadienne de recherche veterinaire2006; 69(4); 278-286;

Vancomycin for the treatment of methicillin-resistant staphylococcal and enterococcal infections in 15 horses.

Abstract: We retrospectively reviewed the cases of 15 foals and adult horses in which vancomycin was used, alone or in combination with an aminoglycoside, to treat methicillin-resistant staphylococcal and enterococcal infections. Signalment, presenting complaint, history (including history of treatment for the current complaint), results of bacterial culture and antimicrobial susceptibility testing, treatment, and outcome were reviewed. The average vancomycin dosage was 7.5 mg/kg q8h, administered by intravenous infusion over 30 min. The infection resolved in all 7 horses with soft tissue infections and in 6 of the 8 horses with infections involving a bone or a joint, or both. No adverse effects of vancomycin therapy were noted. Although the number of cases is small, our findings suggest that vancomycin, alone or in combination with an aminoglycoside, is safe and effective for the treatment of resistant staphylococcal and enterococcal infections in horses and foals. However, owing to the importance of staphylococci and enterococci in human medicine and the problems with emerging resistance, we recommend that the use of vancomycin in horses be limited to cases in which culture and susceptibility results clearly indicate that this agent is likely to be effective and in which there is no reasonable alternative.
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Publication Date: 2006-02-17 PubMed ID: 16479726PubMed Central: PMC1250240
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  • Journal Article
  • Research Support
  • Non-U.S. Gov't

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.

This research article examines the efficacy of the antibiotic vancomycin in treating resistant staphylococcal and enterococcal infections in horses and foals.

Study Design and Execution

  • The study retrospectively analyzed 15 cases of horses and foals suffering from infections caused by Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococci and Enterococci. These infections were treated by using the antibiotic vancomycin, which was either used singly or as a cocktail drug with an aminoglycoside.
  • Important data pertaining to the diagnosis and treatment of these cases was thoroughly reviewed. This included initial signs of the disease, patient history, treatment history for the current complaint, results of bacterial cultures and antibiotic susceptibility tests, treatment administered, and the final outcome.
  • The vancomycin dosage that was typically administered in these cases was on average 7.5 mg/kg every eight hours. This was done through an intravenous infusion, which lasted about 30 minutes.

Outcomes

  • From the total 15 horses that were treated, the infections subsided in all seven horses that had soft tissue infections. Further, six out of the eight horses with bone or joint infections, or both, also showed success with the treatment.
  • There were no reported adverse effects arising from the use of vancomycin therapy in these cases.

Conclusion and Recommendations

  • Although the number of study cases is small, the research results point towards the safety and effectiveness of vancomycin, applied either singly or together with an aminoglycoside, in treating resistant staphylococcal and enterococcal infections in horses and foals.
  • However, given the crucial relevance of staphylococci and enterococci in human medicine, and the rising issue of drug resistance, the authors recommend cautious and limited use of vancomycin in horses. Its use should only be considered when culture and susceptibility results clearly suggest a likely effectiveness of the drug, and when no reasonable alternatives are available.

Cite This Article

APA
Orsini JA, Snooks-Parsons C, Stine L, Haddock M, Ramberg CF, Benson CE, Nunamaker DM. (2006). Vancomycin for the treatment of methicillin-resistant staphylococcal and enterococcal infections in 15 horses. Can J Vet Res, 69(4), 278-286.

Publication

Canadian journal of veterinary research = Revue canadienne de recherche veterinaire
ISSN: 0830-9000
NlmUniqueID: 8607793
Country: Canada
Language: English
Volume: 69
Issue: 4
Pages: 278-286

Researcher Affiliations

Orsini, James A
  • New Bolton Center, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Kennett Square, PA 19348, USA. orsini@vet.upenn.edu
Snooks-Parsons, Corinna
    Stine, Lynne
      Haddock, Marie
        Ramberg, Charles F
          Benson, Charles E
            Nunamaker, David M

              MeSH Terms

              • Aminoglycosides / adverse effects
              • Aminoglycosides / pharmacology
              • Aminoglycosides / therapeutic use
              • Animals
              • Drug Resistance, Bacterial
              • Enterococcus / drug effects
              • Enterococcus / isolation & purification
              • Female
              • Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / drug therapy
              • Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / veterinary
              • Horses
              • Infusions, Intravenous / veterinary
              • Male
              • Methicillin Resistance
              • Microbial Sensitivity Tests / veterinary
              • Retrospective Studies
              • Staphylococcal Infections / drug therapy
              • Staphylococcal Infections / veterinary
              • Treatment Outcome
              • Vancomycin / adverse effects
              • Vancomycin / pharmacology
              • Vancomycin / therapeutic use

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              Citations

              This article has been cited 5 times.
              1. Álvarez-Narváez S, Berghaus LJ, Morris ERA, Willingham-Lane JM, Slovis NM, Giguere S, Cohen ND. A Common Practice of Widespread Antimicrobial Use in Horse Production Promotes Multi-Drug Resistance. Sci Rep 2020 Jan 22;10(1):911.
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