Anti-microbial susceptibility patterns of bacterial isolates from equine wounds - a retrospective study

A retrospective study of bacterial wound infections and its therapeutic management through laboratory based antimicrobial susceptibility tests in dancing and racing equines was carried out. In the study, six species of aerobic and anaerobic bacteria were isolated using standard microbial protocols. S. aureus and S. epidermidis were the most prevalent bacteria contributing 45.25 percent and other species were E. coli (23.5 percent), Pseudomonas sp.(11.5 percent) and Klebsiella sp. (8 percent), Clostridium sp. (6.5 percent) and Streptococcus sp. (5.3 percent) respectively. Antibiotic sensitivity tests (ABST) were carried out employing various antibiotics and of which Oxytetracycline and Penicillin were found to be resistant with MAR index ranging from 8-23.8 percent. The wounds were treated based on ABST and effectiveness in healing was improved by prompt antibiotic selection. The skin wounds and injuries flared up owing to poor practices such as improper saddle hygiene, inappropriate operative care after gelding and neglected medical attention in curing the wounds which should be considered.