Appropriateness of empirical antimicrobial therapy for the treatment of septic peritonitis in dogs and its impact on survival

Authors: Backley SM, Hii C, Hoon M, Hickey MC
Publication: Australian Veterinary Practitioner, Volume 51, Issue 4, pp 212-219, Dec 2021
Publisher: Australian Veterinary Association

Animal type: Dog
Subject Terms: Sepsis/infection
Article class: Scientific Article

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Abstract:

Objectives: To determine if current antimicrobial usage for septic peritonitis in dogs presented to the University Veterinary Teaching Hospital Sydney is consistent with culture and sensitivity results and to establish if appropriateness impacts survival rates in these cases.

Design: Retrospective cross-sectional study (2009-2019).

Setting: The University Veterinary Teaching Hospital Sydney Animals: Thirty-four dogs diagnosed with septic peritonitis between January 2009 and December 2019. All animals had positive growth on culture and sensitivity results and underwent antimicrobial treatment for septic peritonitis within 12 hours of the diagnosis. Interventions: Antimicrobials.

Results: Twenty-four of 34 (71%) dogs survived to discharge. Cultured organisms were sensitive to empirical antimicrobials 53% of the time. Overall, a total of 16 different antimicrobial combinations were administered to 34 dogs, with the most commonly prescribed appropriate antimicrobial being the combination of amoxicillin-clavulanate and enrofloxacin and the most common inappropriately prescribed antimicrobial being amoxicillin-clavulanate. Susceptibility of cultured organisms to the antimicrobials administered initially did not have a significant effect on patient survival (P = 0.33).

Conclusion: In this population, the administration of appropriate and inappropriate antimicrobials occurred at similar rates. No significant association was seen between administration of appropriate antimicrobials and survival.

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