Assessment of wound bio-burden and prevalence of multi-drug resistant bacteria during open wound management.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the bacterial bio-burden of open-treated wounds and make comparisons with bite wounds.


METHODS
Retrospective multicentre study.


METHODS
Microbial culture between 2011 and 2013 from open-treated wounds in dogs and cats (initiation of therapy n=88, follow-up n=52) were compared to those from bite wounds (n=184).


METHODS
Bacteria were identified and tested for antibiotic susceptibility by two accredited laboratories.


RESULTS
In total, 77/88 (88%) of open-treated wounds yielded positive bacterial cultures at the beginning of treatment, decreasing to 27/52 (52%) during treatment. Upon initial evaluation, 42/88 (48 %) of open-treated wounds were considered infected with multi-drug-resistant bacteria, with a drop to 22/52 (41%) during therapy. Bite wounds yielded fewer positive cultures 88/184 (48%) with only 11/182 (6%) being affected by multi-drug-resistant bacteria. Bacteria found most commonly in open-treated wounds were Enterococcus subspecies, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus pseudintermedius and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.


CONCLUSIONS
The bacterial populations of open-treated wounds differed markedly from the bite wounds. The high incidence of multi-drug-resistant strains in open wounds highlights the need for alternatives to antibiotics.
Clinic for Small Animal Surgery and Reproduction, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Veterinärstrasse 13, Munich, 80539, Germany.
M C
MC
Nolff
Department for Basic Veterinary Sciences, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Professor-Huber-Platz 2, Munich, 80539, Germany.
S
S
Reese
Small Animal Clinic, University of Veterinary Medicine of Hannover, Bünteweg 2, 30559, Hannover, Germany.
M
M
Fehr
Small Animal Clinic, University of Veterinary Medicine of Hannover, Bünteweg 2, 30559, Hannover, Germany.
R
R
Dening
Clinic for Small Animal Surgery and Reproduction, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Veterinärstrasse 13, Munich, 80539, Germany.
A
A
Meyer-Lindenberg
D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification; D001733:Bites and Stings / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000382:microbiology*; D002415:Cats; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000382:microbiology*; D004285:Dogs; D024901:Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents