A retrospective study of bacterial pathogens in an equine hospital (1988–2014)

Abstract

Knowledge about local pathogen prevalence is important for guiding initial antimicrobial therapy. The aim of this study was to describe the longitudinal occurrence of bacterial pathogens in hospitalized horses at the University of Zurich between 1988 and 2014. Positive culture results were retrospectively analyzed. Isolates were grouped based on sample site, diagnosis, and year of isolation. The frequency of bacterial isolates over time was compared using the Chi-Square test. Escherichia coli (299/1,723, 17%), Streptococcus equi ssp. zooepidemicus (295/1,723, 17%) and coagulase-positive staphylococci (196/1,723, 11%) were the most common pathogens. Anaerobes were common in dental (18/66, 27%), peritoneal (6/43, 14%) and soft tissue infections (28/208, 13%). Mixed infections were common in skin and dental infections (24/55, 44% and 17/43, 40%, respectively). Frequently isolated bacteria in most organ systems included Gram-positives and Gram-negatives, supporting the need for initial broad-spectrum antimicrobial therapy until culture and susceptibility results become available.