The properties and use of penicillins in the veterinary field, with special reference to skin infections in dogs and cats

Abstract

The use of the penicillins in veterinary dermatology is discussed. An outline is provided of the main penicillins used in the veterinary ®eld. These include benzyl penicillin, penicillin V, ampicillin, amoxycillin, coamoxiclav and oxacillin. An increase in b-lactamase production among strains of Staphylococcus intermedius, the principal canine pathogen in pyoderma, has been seen in recent years. Thus only those penicillins with resistance to b-lactamase (co-amoxiclav or isoxazolyl penicillins) are likely to be of value in treating canine pyoderma. However, feline, porcine and equine staphylococcal dermatoses, and other veterinary dermatoses such as the actinomycoses, dermatophilosis and erysipelothrix, usually respond well to most penicillins, whether or not they resist b-lactamase.

Identification and Antimicrobial Susceptibility of Coagulase Positive Staphylococci Isolated from Healthy Dogs and Dogs Suffering from Otitis Externa

“…Owing to the high concern on the appearance of antimicrobial resistance amongst human isolates of medically important bacteria (Lloyd and Noble, 1999;Teshager et al, 2000) we decided to include in this study some antibiotics designed for human use but employed from time to time in veterinary medicine. Ureidopenicillins, including piperacillin, have been seldom used in veterinary medicine, perhaps because of their high cost and presentation (Harvey and Hunter, 1999). We have found only 70% of CPS susceptible to this antibiotic.…”

Antibiotic resistance in staphylococci associated with cats and dogs

“…3.2.1 Penicillins. Penicillins are one of the earliest classes of antimicrobial agents to be used in human medicine and also used to treat large and small animals for a variety of disease conditions (Harvey and Hunter 1999). Penicillin is use to treat pyoderma in dogs and cats.…”

The efficacy and safety of cefovecin in the treatment of feline abscesses and infected wounds

“…However, in cat bite abscesses, the bacteria involved are usually derived from the oral cavity, and common isolates include Pasteurella multocida , β‐haemolytic streptococci, Corynebacterium species and a number of anaerobic species, such as Prevotella species, Bacteroides species, Actinomyces species, Peptostreptococcus species and Fusobacterium species (Berg and others 1979, Scott 1980, Jang and others 1997, Patel and others 1999). Although a wide range of antimicrobials may be prescribed on initial presentation, it is common practice to choose potentiated amoxicillin or cephalosporins because the majority of isolates of P multocida and staphylococci are usually susceptible to these antimicrobials (Holst and others 1989, Harvey and Hunter 1999, Patel and others 1999).…”