Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Dog with antibiotic-resistant eye infection causing corneal ulcer
By Tajima, Kazuki et al.·Published in Veterinary ophthalmology·2013·Department of Ophthalmology, Japan·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus keratitis in a dog.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 7-year-old male American cocker spaniel was brought in for severe eye problems after having a gland removed. The dog had a swollen eyelid, discharge from the eye, and a deep ulcer on the cornea. Initial treatments with common eye antibiotics didn't help, and tests showed the dog had a resistant infection caused by MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus). After switching to a different antibiotic, the dog's eye inflammation improved, but he developed anemia. The treatment was adjusted again, and with the new medication, the inflammation continued to get better.
People also search for: dog eye infection treatment · MRSA in dogs · cocker spaniel eye problems · antibiotic resistant eye infection in dogs
Abstract
The purpose of this study is to report a case of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) keratitis in a dog. A 7-year-old intact male American cocker spaniel that had undergone removal of a nictitating gland was referred for severe ulcerative keratitis. Slit-lamp examination showed swelling of the eyelid, mucopurulent discharge, conjunctival injection and chemosis, diffuse corneal edema and opacity, and a deep ulcer in central cornea. Gram staining of discharge from the eye demonstrated Gram-positive cocci. Despite topical ofloxacin, oxytetracycline and polymyxin B ophthalmic solution and intravenous cefazolin, there was no improvement. Cultures revealed MRSA that was sensitive only to chloramphenicol, vancomycin, lincomycin, and clindamycin. The antibiotic regimen was changed to topical and systemic chloramphenicol. After 9 days of treatment, although inflammation started to be resolved, the dog developed nonregenerative anemia. The antimicrobial regimen was changed again to topical and systemic vancomycin. Inflammation continued to improve over the next week. MRSA should be considered a potential organism in infectious keratitis, especially when general antibiotics are not effective. Although topical and systemic chloramphenicol and/or vancomycin are effective for treating MRSA keratitis, vancomycin should only be used when culture and susceptibility results indicate it is appropriate and no other options are available. To our knowledge, this is the first detailed case report of MRSA keratitis in a dog.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23127159/