title: Antibiotic susceptibilities of bacteria isolated within the oral flora of Florida blacktip sharks: guidance for empiric antibiotic therapy.
abstract: Sharks possess a variety of pathogenic bacteria in their oral cavity that may potentially be transferred into humans during a bite. The aim of the presented study focused on the identification of the bacteria present in the mouths of live blacktip sharks, Carcharhinus limbatus, and the extent that these bacteria possess multi-drug resistance. Swabs were taken from the oral cavity of nineteen live blacktip sharks, which were subsequently released. The average fork length was 146 cm (±11), suggesting the blacktip sharks were mature adults at least 8 years old. All swabs underwent standard microbiological work-up with identification of organisms and reporting of antibiotic susceptibilities using an automated microbiology system. The oral samples revealed an average of 2.72 (±1.4) bacterial isolates per shark. Gram-negative bacteria, making up 61% of all bacterial isolates, were significantly (p<0.001) more common than gram-positive bacteria (39%). The most common organisms were Vibrio spp. (28%), various coagulase-negative Staphylococcus spp. (16%), and Pasteurella spp. (12%). The overall resistance rate was 12% for all antibiotics tested with nearly 43% of bacteria resistant to at least one antibiotic. Multi-drug resistance was seen in 4% of bacteria. No association between shark gender or fork length with bacterial density or antibiotic resistance was observed. Antibiotics with the highest overall susceptibility rates included fluoroquinolones, 3rd generation cephalosporins and sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim. Recommended empiric antimicrobial therapy for adult blacktip shark bites should encompass either a fluoroquinolone or combination of a 3rd generation cephalosporin plus doxycycline.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy Practice, Nova Southeastern University College of Pharmacy, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, United States of America.
authors.forename: Nathan R
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Unger
authors.affiliation: Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of West Florida, Pensacola, Florida, and Shark Research Institute, Princeton, New Jersey, United States of America.
authors.forename: Erich
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ritter
authors.affiliation: Division of Trauma, St. Mary's Medical Center, West Palm Beach, Florida, United States of America.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Borrego
authors.affiliation: Division of Laboratory Services, St. Mary's Medical Center, West Palm Beach, Florida, United States of America.
authors.forename: Jay
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Goodman
authors.affiliation: Triple O Medical Services, P.A., West Palm Beach, Florida, United States of America.
authors.forename: Olayemi O
authors.initials: OO
authors.lastname: Osiyemi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial; D005431:Florida; D009055:Mouth / Q000382:microbiology*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D012754:Sharks / Q000382:microbiology*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents
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