The study revealed that antimicrobial-resistant infections are most common in horses coming out of surgery and that have had previous treatments with antimicrobials. | Photo: Thinkstock

Fighting bacteria is becoming more challenging as germs develop increasing resistance to antimicrobial drugs. That’s particularly true for hospitalized horses with weakened immune systems, Swiss researchers have learned. Their recent study shows that antimicrobial-resistant infections are most common in horses coming out of surgery and that have had previous treatments with antimicrobials.

“Many of these products just don’t work anymore,” said Julia Nora van Spijk, Dr Med Vet, of the University of Zurich Veterinary School’s Equine Department. She presented her work at the 2017 Swiss Equine Research Day, held earlier this year in Avenches.

“Fortunately, we have a ‘reserve stock’ of newer variants of antibiotics which are effective,” she said. “Due to the locations of the infections, which often did not require antimicrobial treatment or our newer-generation antimicrobials, 80% of our study horses survived their resistant infections