In a world of increasing pathogen resistance to available antibiotics, many veterinarians, owners, and caretakers worry when faced with a sick horse, especially a delicate neonate. Will the medications that once worked to save a sick foal still be effective?

There’s good news: Researchers at the University of California, Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine have confirmed that the “go-to” antibiotics frequently used to treat septic neonatal foals are, indeed, still effective.

“Sepsis, defined as the presence of bacteria in the bloodstream, is a rapidly progressive disease that requires immediate antimicrobial therapy in foals,” said David Wilson, BVMS, MS, Hon Dipl. ACVIM, who presented the group’s study results on behalf of Mathijs Theelen, DVM, Dipl. ECEIM, at the 2016 American Association of Equine Practitioners Convention, held Dec. 3-7 in Orlando, Florida.

In most cases, the exact bacteria causing infection aren’t known when treatment begins. The veterinarian administers antibiotics “empirically,” selecting one or more to begin treatment based on the most likely bacterial cause of infection until bacterial culture results become available—a process that usually takes several days