Isolation ofaerobic bacteria from surgical site infections following orthopaedic operations incats and dogs.

Abstract

Surgical site infections (SSIs) cause significant complications inthe postoperative period inveterinary surgeries. Determining the aetiology ofinfections iscrucial for increasing treatment success rates. This study aims toassess treatment processes byidentifying the bacterial agents responsible for infections occurring incats and dogs after orthopaedic operations and todetermine the antimicrobial resistance profiles ofthese agents. Strains isolated from SSIs were retrospectively analysed inpatients brought tothe Surgical Clinic ofSiirt University Animal Health Application and Research Hospital between 2021 and 2023. The isolates were identified using MALDI-TOF MS. The disc diffusion method was applied todetermine the antimicrobial susceptibility ofthe isolates. Ahigh isolation rate was detected inmethicillin-resistant Staphylococcus pseudintermedius and extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) producing Enterobacteriaceae. According tothe antimicrobial susceptibility results, cephalosporin treatment was continued inonly one ofthe cases inwhich prophylactic treatment with cephalosporin group antibiotics was applied. Consequently, this study revealed that preoperative prophylactic antibiotic administration may not besufficient inpreventing surgical site infections. Diagnosis ofaetiological agents and evaluation ofantimicrobial susceptibility are essential inpreventing surgical site infections and determining effective treatment options.