Antimicrobial Resistance in Horses.

Summary

# Antimicrobial Resistance in Horses: A Growing Threat to Equine Medicine The emergence of antimicrobial-resistant pathogens represents a significant challenge for equine practitioners, as bacteria isolated from horses increasingly demonstrate resistance to commonly prescribed antibiotics, undermining treatment efficacy across both clinical and subclinical infections. Steinman and Venezia conducted a comprehensive review of resistance patterns in equine bacterial isolates, examining how selective pressures from therapeutic and prophylactic antibiotic use have driven the development and dissemination of resistant strains within equine populations and through environmental pathways. The review identifies key resistant organisms of concern in horses—including methicillin-resistant *Staphylococcus aureus* (MRSA), multidrug-resistant *Acinetobacter baumannii*, and fluoroquinolone-resistant gram-negative enterics—documented across wound infections, respiratory disease, and gastrointestinal conditions. These findings carry direct implications for farriers managing contaminated wounds, veterinarians selecting empirical antimicrobial protocols, and all professionals involved in infection control, as resistance patterns necessitate culture-guided therapy rather than assumption of susceptibility to first-line agents. Understanding the drivers of AMR in equine practice—including inappropriate dosing, duration, and choice of antimicrobials—equips practitioners to implement more judicious prescribing strategies that preserve antibiotic efficacy whilst reducing zoonotic transmission risks to human contacts and the wider environment.

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Key Findings

• •Antimicrobial resistance is a globally recognized public health threat affecting modern healthcare systems
• •AMR hampers effective control and treatment of infectious diseases in equine populations

Conditions Studied