34th Annual Scientific Meeting proceedings

Objectives:

In the face of the continued emergence of antibiotic resistance, appropriate antibiotic use based on current international standards should be practiced clinically. This study aims to assess antibiotic administration practices in the clinical setting and compares them with current guidelines to identify possible areas for improvement.

Methods:

A retrospective analysis of medical records of horses admitted to the surgical department and treated with antibiotics over a six-month period was conducted. International antibiotic stewardship guidelines were applied to evaluate whether there was a clear indication for antibiotic use. Simple and multivariable logistic regression models examined associations between an indication for antibiotics and clinical and treatment factors.

Results:

Of 319 horses included in the study, 193 (60.5%) had a clear indication for antibiotic use. Multivariable analysis showed that horses undergoing clean-contaminated procedures were significantly more likely to receive antibiotics with a clear indication than those undergoing clean procedures (OR 5.49, CI95%:3.39-8.89,p<0.001). Further, there was a positive interaction between horses admitted as emergencies and longer durations of antibiotic administration, resulting in greater odds of receiving antibiotics with a clear indication (OR 2.29, CI95%:1.07-4.90,p=0.033). Additionally, signs of pain upon admission were also significantly associated with an indication to receive antibiotics (OR 3.2, CI95%:1.11-9.02,p=0.031).

Conclusions:

Compared to international guidelines, many clinical cases lacked a clear indication for antibiotic use. Areas of improvement include reducing antibiotic use in clean (elective) procedures and establishing clear rationales for initiating antibiotic treatment in emergencies. Collected information can be used to improve compliance with antibiotic stewardship guidelines by sharing results with stakeholders.