Get started
Work

Influence of antimicrobial prophylaxis in horses undergoing sutured castrations

Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Objective To investigate the influence of surgical antimicrobial prophylaxis (SAP) on complication rates and surgical site infections (SSI) in horses undergoing sutured castration in a hospital setting. Study design Retrospective chart review of a convenience sample. Animals A total of 220 colts and stallions admitted for sutured castration. Methods Medical records of sutured castration were assessed for patient characteristics, perioperative and postoperative medications, and postoperative complications within 6 weeks after surgery. The effect of these variables on the occurrence of complications was analyzed using χ2 tests, and the association between SAP use and SSI probability was evaluated. Results The median age of horses included in the study was 3 years (range 1–14 years), and the overall complication rate was 10.0% (22/220). Surgical antimicrobial prophylaxis was administered to 62% of the patients (136/220). There were no differences in the overall complication rates, with a 7.1% (6/84) complication rate among horses without SAP (SAP‐) and an 11.8% (16/136) rate in those receiving SAP (SAP+) (p = .36). There was no association between the use of SAP and the probability of SSI, with an incidence of 3.6% in SAP‐ and 4.4% in SAP+ (3/84 and 6/136 respectively) (p = 1.0). Conclusion Administering SAP did not influence the overall complication rate or the SSI rate following sutured castrations in a hospital setting. Clinical Significance These findings prompt a reconsideration of the use of SAP for sutured castrations under aseptic conditions. The results may also serve as a basis for future randomized controlled trials.
DOI: 10.1111/vsu.14256
Language: English
Subfield: Surgery
Field: Medicine
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $3,000
OpenAlex ID: W4408991503
FWCI: 2.606
Cites: 23
Cited by: 3
Related to: 10