Rifampicin treatment of canine multidrug‐resistant meticillin‐resistant staphylococcal pyoderma: A retrospective study of 51 cases

Abstract

Background: Rifampicin (RFP) is a potential treatment for canine multidrugresistant (MDR) meticillin-resistant staphylococci (MRS), yet the use of lower doses based on recent MIC data has not been evaluated in vivo.Hypothesis/Objectives: To provide information on the efficacy and safety of low-dose range RFP (≤6 mg/kg/day) for the treatment of canine MDR MRS pyoderma.Animals: Fifty-one client-owned dogs. Materials and methods:Retrospective review of dogs medical records. Dogs were from 11 US dermatology referral practices and had oral RFP at ≤6 mg/kg/day. Data evaluated included response to treatment, adverse events, and serum changes in alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP).Results: Complete resolution of pyoderma occurred in 39 of 51 dogs (76.5%).Topical antimicrobials were used concurrently in most cases (47 of 51; 92.2%). ALP elevation >1.5-fold of baseline or the high end of the reference range occurred in nine of 37 (24.3%) dogs, while ALT elevation above baseline and the high end of the reference range occurred in two of 36 (5.6%). Only six of 51 (11.8%) had clinical adverse events during treatment; five of six (83.3%) were mild reactions consisting of lethargy and gastrointestinal signs, while one dog had a possible cutaneous adverse drug reaction. Of those that experienced clinical adverse events, four of six (66.7%) did not have concurrent increased liver enzyme activity, while two of six (33.3%) had elevations in ALP alone. Conclusions and clinical relevance:Low-dose RFP (≤6 mg/kg/day) appears to be a relatively safe and effective single-agent systemic antibiotic in combination with topical antimicrobials for canine MDR MRS pyoderma.

Fluorescent Light Energy in the Management of Multi Drug Resistant Canine Pyoderma: A Prospective Exploratory Study

“…Bacterial culture and sensitivity testing is frequently ignored in CDP and CIF diagnostic workup for which empiric therapy is still erroneously considered suitable in certain cases, particularly during first-time or untreated infections [ 5 ] Some authors have demonstrated that selected antimicrobials widely considered to be effective during deep bacterial skin infection (i.e., β-Lactam, macrolides, lincosamides, and potentiated sulfonamides) may promote establishment of methicillin-resistant strains [ 7 , 31 ]. On the other hand, other authors highlighted a possible efficacy of rifampicin for the treatment of multidrug resistant staphylococcal infections, requiring concurrent topical antimicrobial administration to obtain a complete resolution in near 80% of dogs, despite more studies to assess the safety profile are needed [ 32 ]. Many MDR staphylococcal isolates of the present study resulted to be resistant to fluoroquinolones as previously demonstrated by other authors during MDR infections [ 7 ].…”