Temporal trends in prevalence of bacteria isolated from foals with sepsis: 1979–2010. (11th September 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Theelen, M. J. P.; Wilson, W. D.; Edman, J. M.; Magdesian, K. G.; Kass, P. H.
• Is Part Of: Equine veterinary journal. Volume 46:Number 2(2014:Mar.)
• Page Start: 169
• Page End: 173
• Publication Date: 2013-09-11
• Subjects: Horses -- Diseases -- Periodicals; 636.108905
• DOI: 10.1111/evj.12131
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0425-1644

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title>Summary</title> <sec id="evj12131-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Reasons for performing study</title> <p>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.</p> </sec> <sec id="evj12131-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Objectives</title> <p>To identify temporal trends in prevalence of bacteria isolated from foals with sepsis between 1979 and 2010.</p> </sec> <sec id="evj12131-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Study design</title> <p>Retrospective review of medical records.</p> </sec> <sec id="evj12131-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>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 (<italic>antemortem</italic> 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.</p> </sec> <sec id="evj12131-sec-0005" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>The percentage of Gram‐positive isolates increased significantly over the years. The percentage Enterobacteriacea<italic>, </italic> and <italic>Klebsiella</italic> spp. in particular<italic>, </italic> decreased over time. <italic>Enterococcus</italic> spp. isolates were cultured more often in recent years.</p> </sec> <sec id="evj12131-sec-0006" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusions</title> <p>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 <italic>Enterococcus</italic> 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.</p> </sec> </abstract>