Hospital-acquired and zoonotic bacteria from a veterinary hospital and their associated antimicrobial-susceptibility profiles: A systematic review.
Authors: Sebola Dikeledi C, Oguttu James W, Kock Marleen M, Qekwana Daniel N
Journal: Frontiers in veterinary science
Summary
# Editorial Summary Hospital-acquired infections present a significant challenge in veterinary medicine, carrying implications not only for patient outcomes but also for public health, since many of the causative organisms are zoonotic in nature and can spread to staff and the wider community. Through systematic review of published literature, Sebola and colleagues identified the bacterial species most commonly associated with nosocomial infections in veterinary hospital settings and characterised their resistance patterns to antimicrobial agents. The findings highlight which pathogens pose the greatest risk—both in terms of infection prevalence and treatment difficulty—allowing veterinary facilities to implement targeted infection-control protocols and inform antibiotic stewardship policies. Understanding the antimicrobial-susceptibility profiles of hospital-associated organisms is particularly valuable for farriers and equine practitioners working with referral cases or managing post-operative complications, as it enables more judicious selection of empirical therapies and reduces the likelihood of harbouring resistant strains. Veterinary professionals should consider these resistance patterns when treating suspected nosocomial infections and advocate for robust biosecurity measures in their facilities, ultimately protecting both animal welfare and occupational health.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Understanding which zoonotic bacteria are prevalent in veterinary hospitals helps inform infection control protocols and personal protective equipment use in your facility
- •Antimicrobial susceptibility data should guide treatment decisions for hospital-acquired infections to combat resistance patterns in your specific setting
- •Consider screening and isolation protocols for high-risk patients to reduce HAI transmission and associated treatment costs
Key Findings
- •Hospital-acquired infections in veterinary settings are commonly caused by zoonotic bacterial pathogens with significant antimicrobial resistance profiles
- •HAIs are associated with increased mortality, morbidity, and substantial economic burden due to prolonged hospitalization
- •Multiple bacterial organisms identified in veterinary hospitals demonstrate varying susceptibility patterns to antimicrobial agents