Influence of antimicrobial prophylaxis in horses undergoing sutured castrations.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the influence of surgical antimicrobial prophylaxis (SAP) on complication rates and surgical site infections (SSI) in horses undergoing sutured castration in a hospital setting. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective chart review of a convenience sample. ANIMALS: A total of 220 colts and stallions admitted for sutured castration. METHODS: Medical records of sutured castration were assessed for patient characteristics, perioperative and postoperative medications, and postoperative complications within 6 weeks after surgery. The effect of these variables on the occurrence of complications was analyzed using χtests, and the association between SAP use and SSI probability was evaluated. RESULTS: The median age of horses included in the study was 3 years (range 1-14 years), and the overall complication rate was 10.0% (22/220). Surgical antimicrobial prophylaxis was administered to 62% of the patients (136/220). There were no differences in the overall complication rates, with a 7.1% (6/84) complication rate among horses without SAP (SAP-) and an 11.8% (16/136) rate in those receiving SAP (SAP+) (p = .36). There was no association between the use of SAP and the probability of SSI, with an incidence of 3.6% in SAP- and 4.4% in SAP+ (3/84 and 6/136 respectively) (p = 1.0). CONCLUSION: Administering SAP did not influence the overall complication rate or the SSI rate following sutured castrations in a hospital setting. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: These findings prompt a reconsideration of the use of SAP for sutured castrations under aseptic conditions. The results may also serve as a basis for future randomized controlled trials.