Risk of adverse effects in pneumonic foals treated with erythromycin versus other antibiotics: 143 cases (1986-1996).
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether foals with pneumonia that were treated with erythromycin, alone or in combination with rifampin or gentamicin, had a higher risk of developing adverse effects, compared with foals treated with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMS), penicillin G procaine (PGP), or a combination of TMS and PGP (control foals).


METHODS
Retrospective study.


METHODS
143 foals < 240 days old.


METHODS
Information on age, sex, breed, primary drug treatment, total days of treatment with the primary drug, and whether the foal developed diarrhea, hyperthermia, or respiratory distress was obtained from the medical records. Relative risk (RR) and attributable risk (AR) were calculated to compare risk of adverse reactions between foals treated with erythromycin and control foals.


RESULTS
Only 3 (4.3%) control foals developed diarrhea; none developed hyperthermia or respiratory distress. Foals treated with erythromycin had an 8-fold risk (RR, 8.3) of developing diarrhea, compared with control foals, and increased risks of hyperthermia (AR, 25%) and respiratory distress (AR, 15%).


CONCLUSIONS
Results suggest that use of erythromycin to treat foals with pneumonia was associated with an increased risk of diarrhea, hyperthermia, and respiratory distress, compared with use of TMS or PGP.
Stratton-Phelps
M
M
Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis 95616, USA.
Wilson
W D
WD
Gardner
I A
IA
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000904:Antibiotics, Antitubercular / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000662:veterinary*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004917:Erythromycin / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000662:veterinary*; D005839:Gentamicins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000188:drug therapy; D006736:Horses; D008297:Male; D010402:Penicillin G Procaine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010406:Penicillins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000662:veterinary*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012293:Rifampin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012307:Risk Factors; D015662:Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D000904:Antibiotics, Antitubercular; D005839:Gentamicins; D010406:Penicillins; D010402:Penicillin G Procaine; D004917:Erythromycin; D015662:Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination; D012293:Rifampin