Bacterial translocation in horses with colic and the potential association with surgical site infection: a pilot study

Abstract

BackgroundSurgical site infection (SSI) is a leading cause of morbidity in horses undergoing emergency exploratory laparotomy for the treatment of acute colic. The exact mechanism by which SSI develops in these cases is unclear. This prospective observational study investigated whether bacterial translocation occurs in horses with acute colic and if there is an association between bacterial translocation and development of SSI.MethodsPeripheral venous blood (PVB) and peritoneal fluid (PF) samples were collected on admission and PF samples were collected at the end of surgery from horses presenting for investigation of acute colic. Any discharge from the laparotomy incision in horses that developed SSI was also collected. All samples were submitted for bacterial culture.ResultsIn total, 7.7 per cent of PVB samples (3/39), 11.8 per cent (4/34) of admission PF samples and 8.7 per cent (2/23) of the PF samples at surgery were culture positive. The prevalence of SSI was 10.2 per cent. No association was identified between a positive PVB or PF culture and development of a SSI or survival to hospital discharge.ConclusionBacterial translocation can occur in some horses with acute colic. However, we were unable to identify any association between bacterial translocation and the development of SSIs following emergency exploratory laparotomy.

Third Generation Cephalosporin Resistant Enterobacterales Infections in Hospitalized Horses and Donkeys: A Case–Case–Control Analysis

“…In three different studies, conducted in two different equine hospitals, shedding rates were shown to increase by 2.5-5.1-fold during hospitalization, implying that the nosocomial acquisition and spread of these resistant bacteria is common in certain veterinary facilities [11,16,17]. Moreover, there are numerous reports on various severe and invasive 3GCRE infectious syndromes among horses, e.g., skin and soft tissue infections, surgical site infections, upper respiratory tract infections, and bacteremia [18][19][20][21]. Furthermore, in horses, synovial infection with multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria was significantly associated with euthanasia [22].…”

Equine blood cultures: Can we do better?

“…28,29 Bacteraemia has also been identified with blood culture in horses with colitis, some colic cases, and post-endodontic procedures. [29][30][31][32] Published procedures for blood culture collection in adult horses also vary. Commonly described protocols are similar to those described in foals (Table 1), though larger volumes of blood are collected in some cases, and collection from multiple sites (e.g.…”

“…both jugular and/or cephalic veins) is more commonly performed in horses than in foals. [29][30][31]…”

“…2 Bacteraemia has also been identified with blood culture in horses with colitis, some colic cases, and postendodontic procedures. [29][30][31][32] This transient bacteraemia is typically associated with clinical signs of SIRS/sepsis, and may be an expected physiological consequence of these illnesses and procedures rather than a true infection warranting treatment. In one retrospective study, some dogs and cats with positive blood cultures did not meet diagnostic criteria for sepsis, suggesting that, like horses and some newborn foals, transient bacteraemia may also be experienced by small animals in the absence of clinical signs or severe disease.…”

“…Blood culture is performed much less frequently for diagnostic purposes in adult horses than in foals, except in cases of suspected valvular endocarditis, and sometimes in horses with a fever for which a definitive diagnosis has not been identified 28,29 . Bacteraemia has also been identified with blood culture in horses with colitis, some colic cases, and post‐endodontic procedures 29–32 . Published procedures for blood culture collection in adult horses also vary.…”