title: Bacterial infections in horses: a retrospective study at the University Equine Clinic of Bern.
abstract: Bacterial infections present a major challenge in equine medicine. Therapy should be based on bacteriological diagnosis to successfully minimize the increasing number of infections caused by multidrug-resistant bacteria. The present study is a retrospective analysis of bacteriological results from purulent infections in horses admitted at the University Equine Clinic of Bern from 2004 to 2008. From 378 samples analyzed, 557 isolates were identified, of which Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus and coliforms were the most common. Special attention was paid to infections with methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) ST398 and a non-MRSA, multidrug-resistant S. aureus clone ST1 (BERN100). Screening of newly-admitted horses showed that 2.2 % were carriers of MRSA. Consequent hygiene measures taken at the Clinic helped to overcome a MRSA outbreak and decrease the number of MRSA infections.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Veterinary Bacteriology and Equine Clinic, University of Bern.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Panchaud
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Gerber
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rossano
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Perreten
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary*; D018432:Drug Resistance, Multiple; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D006736:Horses; D006920:Hygiene; D016106:Methicillin Resistance; D055624:Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary; D018502:Streptococcus equi / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013557:Switzerland
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents