Antimicrobial susceptibility in bacterial isolates from Norwegian cats with lower urinary tract disease

Abstract

Studies of feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD) among Norwegian cats have shown higher prevalences of bacterial cystitis than most previously published reports. The aims of the present study were to identify bacterial isolates obtained from the urine of Norwegian cats with FLUTD and their susceptibility to antimicrobial agents. Eighty-two bacterial isolates from 72 urine cultures obtained from 71 different cats were included. Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus species, Enterococcus species and Streptococcus species were the most frequently detected. The percentages of isolates susceptible to the included antimicrobial agents were as follows: enrofloxacin - 92%; trimethoprim/sulfonamide - 91%; nitrofurantoin - 89%; tetracycline - 78%; ampicillin - 73%; amoxicillin/clavulanic acid - 72%; trimethoprim - 68%; amoxicillin - 58%; cephalexin - 51%; spiramycin - 39%; penicillin - 34%; fucidic acid - 34%; lincomycin - 27%. Although several tendencies towards increasing antimicrobial resistance were detected among the isolates included, the species of bacteria isolated and their patterns of antimicrobial resistance were, in general, in concurrence with the existing literature. Thus, the results do not fully explain the higher prevalence of bacterial cystitis found in Norwegian cats. Moreover, additional explanatory factors beside the inclusion of primary accession cases rather than referred cases were not found.

Prevalence of feline urinary tract pathogens and antimicrobial resistance over five years

“…Ampicillin, which has cross‐resistance to amoxicillin, the second recommended agent, 14 had a low IF of only 67.2. This is consistent with a recent study from Norway, which documented a low sensitivity of 58 per cent of urinary isolates to amoxicillin 47 . A current study from human medicine identified ampicillin as the least effective antimicrobial with 90 per cent resistance in UTIs 48 .…”

“…This is consistent with a recent study from Norway, which documented a low sensitivity of 58 per cent of urinary isolates to amoxicillin. 47 A current study from human medicine identiied ampicillin as the least efective antimicrobial with 90 per cent resistance in UTIs. 48 Based on the results of these studies, amoxicillin cannot be recommended for empirical treatment.…”

Urinary tract infection and subclinical bacteriuria in cats: A clinical update

“…Other frequently documented microorganisms are Streptococcus species (2-19%), Enterococcus faecalis (5-27%) and Staphylococcus felis (17-20%). [6][7][8]34,35,44,63 E faecalis was more likely to be present in cats with subclinical bacteriuria (23%) than in cats with UTIs (11%). 29,34 Enterococcus species were previously considered commensal organisms of the gut flora with little clinical significance.…”

Antimicrobial susceptibility testing for feline urinary tract isolates

“…In response to the concerns brought forward by Mark Papich related to the use of antibiotic susceptibility testing reported in the study published in JFMS , 1 we would like to offer the following comments.…”