Survey of complications and antimicrobial use in equine patients at veterinary teaching hospitals that underwent surgery because of colic.
OBJECTIVE
To determine current practices regarding use of antimicrobials in equine patients undergoing surgery because of colic at veterinary teaching hospitals.


METHODS
Survey.


METHODS
Diplomates of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons performing equine surgery at veterinary teaching hospitals in the United States.


METHODS
A Web-based questionnaire was developed, and 85 surgeons were asked to participate. The first part of the survey requested demographic information and information about total number of colic surgeries performed at the hospital, number of colic surgeries performed by the respondent, and whether the hospital had written guidelines for antimicrobial drug use. The second part pertained to nosocomial infections. The third part provided several case scenarios and asked respondents whether they would use antimicrobial drugs in these instances.


RESULTS
Thirty-four (40%) surgeons responded to the questionnaire. Respondents indicated that most equine patients undergoing surgery because of colic at veterinary teaching hospitals in the United States received antimicrobial drugs. Drugs that were used were similar for the various hospitals that were represented, and for the most part, the drugs that were used were fairly uniform irrespective of the type of colic, whereas the duration of treatment varied with the type of colic and the surgical findings. The combination of potassium penicillin and gentamicin was the most commonly used treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
Results of this study document the implementation of recommendations by several authors in veterinary texts that antimicrobial drugs be administered perioperatively in equine patients with colic that are undergoing surgery. However, the need for long-term antimicrobial drug treatment in equine patients with colic is unknown.
Traub-Dargatz
Josie L
JL
Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins 80523, USA.
George
Jennifer L
JL
Dargatz
David A
DA
Morley
Paul S
PS
Southwood
Louise L
LL
Tillotson
Kirsten
K
D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D019072:Antibiotic Prophylaxis / Q000662:veterinary*; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary*; D003085:Colic / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D003625:Data Collection; D005839:Gentamicins / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D006736:Horses; D006762:Hospitals, Animal; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D010406:Penicillins / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D005839:Gentamicins; D010406:Penicillins