Abstracts | EQUINE
Sequential Bacterial Sampling of the Midline
Incision in Horses Undergoing Exploratory
Laparotomy
C. M. Isgren S. E. Salem N. B.
Townsend D. Timofte T. W. Maddox
D. C. Archer
Background
There is limited information about bacterial isolates
that are present on the equine midline incision during
and following exploratory laparotomy.
Objectives
To investigate the bacterial species cultured from
the ve ntral midline pre‐, intra‐ and post‐ laparotomy,
whether particular bacterial isolates are associated
with the development of surgical site infections (SSIs)
and to report the antimicrobial resistance phenotypes
of these isolates.
Study design
Seven horses (22.6%) developed a SSI. None of the
variables tested were associated with the altered risk
of SSI. The prevalence of a positive bacterial culture
from the incision increased progressively over time
and a variety of bacteria were isolated. A positive
intra‐operative culture was not a predictor of SSI; and
when a SSI did occur, it was due to a different bacterial
isolate. MRSA and ESBL‐producers were identified in
the post‐operative period in one and four different
horses respectively, but none of these developed a SSI.
Main limitations
Sampling was limited to hospitalisation and no culture
results were available for horses developing SSI
following hospital discharge.
Prospective cohort study.
Methods
Results
The ventral midline of 31 horses undergoing exploratory
laparotomy was sampled for bacterial culture at set
time‐points pre, intra and post‐operatively. Inclusion
criteria were that horses must have undergone
exploratory laparotomy within 90 min of the initial
colic examination upon hospital admission and must
not have been placed in a stable prior to surgery. SSI
was defined as any purulent or serous discharge from
the laparotomy incision of >24 h duration.
Conclusions
A variety of bacterial species may be isolated from
equine laparotomy incisions peri‐operatively without
development of SSI. SSI does not appear to be solely
related to bacterial contamination of the incision peri‐
operatively and other mechanisms such as bacteraemia
merit further investigation.
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/evj.12958
• Volume 20 Issue 2 | July 2018 •
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