Tract Infections In Dogs Research Articles

RINITES FÚNGICAS EM CÃES E GATOS: PRINCIPAIS ASPECTOS ENVOLVIDOS NA INFECÇÃO – REVISÃO DE LITERATURA

Aspergillus spp. and Cryptococcus spp. are the fungal genera most frequently involved in upper respiratory tract infections in dogs and cats, respectively. Their cosmopolitan distribution in the terrestrial environment and their ability to cause diseases in various species, including mammals and birds, represent a challenge not only for veterinary medicine but also for public health. Diagnostic tests and treatments for fungal diseases in animals have not kept pace with the increasing drug resistance and the emergence of new resistant strains. In this context, more than 50 scientific papers, including books and articles published between 1992 and 2024, were reviewed with the aim of providing an overview of the main aspects related to infection by Aspergillus spp. and Cryptococcus spp. in domestic canines and felines, highlighting information from the scientific literature.

Multidrug resistance in pathogenic Escherichia coli isolates from urinary tract infections in dogs, Spain.

Escherichia coli (E. coli) is a pathogen frequently isolated in cases of urinary tract infections (UTIs) in both humans and dogs and evidence exists that dogs are reservoirs for human infections. In addition, E. coli is associated to increasing antimicrobial resistance rates. This study focuses on the analysis of antimicrobial resistance and the presence of selected virulence genes in E. coli isolates from a Spanish dog population suffering from UTI. This collection of isolates showed an extremely high level of phenotypic resistance to 1st-3rd generation cephalosporins, followed by penicillins, fluoroquinolones and amphenicols. Apart from that, 13.46% of them were considered extended-spectrum beta-lactamase producers. An alarmingly high percentage (71.15%) of multidrug resistant isolates were also detected. There was a good correlation between the antimicrobial resistance genes found and the phenotypic resistance expressed. Most of the isolates were classified as extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli, and two others harbored virulence factors related to diarrheagenic pathotypes. A significant relationship between low antibiotic resistance and high virulence factor carriage was found, but the mechanisms behind it are still poorly understood. The detection of high antimicrobial resistance rates to first-choice treatments highlights the need of constant antimicrobial resistance surveillance, as well as continuous revision of therapeutic guidelines for canine UTI to adapt them to changes in antimicrobial resistance patterns.

Isolated pathogens and antibiogram in clinical cases of urinary tract infection in dogs

Isolated pathogens and antibiogram in clinical cases of urinary tract infection in dogs

The antibiotic susceptibilities and microorganisms isolated from urinary tract infections of dogs

In this study, we aimed to isolate microorganisms from urine samples taken from dogs with urinary system infection and to determine an antibiotic susceptibility. For this purpose, urine samples taken from 30 dogs by cystocentesis were inoculated on Blood Agar, MacConkey Agar and Sabourraud’s Dextrose Agar. The isolated microorganisms were identified by conventional microbiological methods. In this study, while 19 bacteria were isolated from 15 dogs (63.33%), no isolation was detected within the mycological culture. The most isolated bacteria were Escherichia coli (26.32%) and coagulase negative Staphylococci (26.32%). The isolates were susceptible 84.2% to ceftriaxone, 78.9% to enrofloxacine, 73.7% to ciprofloxacin, gentamicin and trimethoprim + sulfamethoxazole, 73.7% to amoxicillin-clavulanic acid and cefixime, 57.9% to cephalexin, 52.6% to oxytetracycline and 47.4% to ceftiofur. We concluded that Escherichia coli and coagulase negative Staphylococci were the most common reason for urinary tract infections in dogs and due to the differences to antibiotic of the bacterial isolates that antibiotic susceptibility tests is necessary for treatment.

A narrative review of current perspectives on urinary tract infections in dogs and cats

Abstract Bacterial urinary tract infections (UTIs) are among the most common diseases in dogs and cats. The infections occur when the natural defence systems of the urinary tract and pathogenic bacteria are out of balance. Diagnosis of UTIs requires a simultaneous evaluation of clinical signs and urine culture, which is necessary before initiating appropriate antibiotic therapy. Several variables, such as subclinical bacteriuria or pre-analytical errors, can make the interpretation of urine cultures problematic. The aim of this review was to provide an up-to-date overview of UTIs in dogs and cats and to improve the current understanding of the epidemiology, pathogenic aspects of uropathogens, and innovative therapeutic modalities.

Efficacy of silver-coated urinary catheters for reducing urinary tract infection in dogs

Indwelling urinary catheters are frequently used in practice, however urinary catheters have been associated with catheter-associated urinary tract infections in dogs. Antimicrobial coating of urinary catheters can reduce catheter-associated urinary tract infections through the initial prevention of bacterial attachment. Historical studies have identified the benefit of silver in reducing bacteriuria in humans. This knowledge summary concluded that no study was able to demonstrate that the use of silver-coated urinary catheters is superior to silicone urinary catheters in reducing the incidence of urinary tract infections in dogs. Further investigation in vivo, with a large sample size, is required to verify the statistical significance of the effect of the silver-coating of urinary catheters in the reduction of urinary tract infections.

Safety and efficacy of nightly nitrofurantoin as prophylaxis in dogs with recurrent urinary tract infections: 13 cases (2015-2021).

To report the protocol, efficacy and adverse events in dogs receiving nightly nitrofurantoin therapy as antimicrobial prophylaxis for recurrent urinary tract infections. Retrospective case series of dogs prescribed nitrofurantoin as prophylaxis for recurrent urinary tract infections. Data on urological history, diagnostic investigation, protocol, adverse events and efficacy (through serial urine cultures) were extracted from medical records. Thirteen dogs were included. Before therapy, dogs had a median of 3 (range 3 to 7) positive urine cultures in the past year. In all but one dog, standard antimicrobial therapy was given before starting the nightly nitrofurantoin. The nightly nitrofurantoin was then prescribed at a median dose of 4.1mg/kg orally every 24 hours for a median of 166 days (range 44 to 1740). The median infection-free interval on therapy was 268 days (95% confidence interval: 165 to undefined). Eight dogs had no positive urine cultures while on therapy. Of these, five (three which discontinued and two which remained on nitrofurantoin) had no return of clinical signs or bacteriuria at time of last follow-up evaluation or death, and three had suspected or confirmed bacteriuria 10 to 70 days after discontinuation. Five dogs developed bacteriuria on therapy, four of which were nitrofurantoin-resistant Proteus spp. Most other adverse events were minor; none were considered likely caused by the drug on causality assessment. Based on this small study group, nightly nitrofurantoin appears well tolerated and might be efficacious prophylaxis for recurrent urinary tract infections in dogs. Infection with nitrofurantoin-resistant Proteus spp. was a common reason for treatment failure.

Rate of surgical site and urinary tract infections in dogs after cessation of antibiotics following spinal surgery.

Excessive use of antimicrobials and the increasing occurrence of antimicrobial resistance are major challenges in both human and veterinary medicine. The role of prophylactic antimicrobial therapy in orthopaedic and neurosurgeries in dogs can be questioned. The aim of this study was to evaluate the rate of surgical site infections (SSI) and urinary tract infections (UTI) in dogs after cessation of antibiotics following spinal surgery. Electronic patient records from January 2018 to December 2019 were retrospectively reviewed to identify dogs that underwent spinal surgery (n = 158). Antimicrobial drug use and the presence of SSI and UTI were recorded. Overall, SSI developed in 1.3% of dogs that underwent spinal surgery, while UTI developed in 8.2%. Multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria were detected in 5.1% of dogs. The rates of SSI, UTI and MDR did not differ significantly between dogs that received postoperative antimicrobial therapyandthosethatdidnot. The main limitation of this study was its retrospective design. Overall, the SSI rate in this study was low. Cessation of postoperative antimicrobial use in dogs followingspinal surgery did not havea negative effect on either SSI development or the occurrence of UTI.

Bacterial Isolates from Urinary Tract Infection in Dogs and Cats in Portugal, and Their Antibiotic Susceptibility Pattern: A Retrospective Study of 5 Years (2017-2021).

There are growing concerns regarding the rise of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria in companion animals. This study aimed to bring new insights into the current scenario of Portugal's antimicrobial resistance bacteria isolated from companion animals with urinary tract infections and is the first to be performed during a long period on a large scale. Of a total of 17472 urine samples analyzed, 12,166 (69.6%) (CI 12,200-12,200) were negative for bacterial growth, and 5306 (30.4%) (95% CI 5310-5310) had bacterial growth. Of the culture-positive samples, 5224 (96.6%) (95% CI 5220-5220) were pure cultures and 82 (3.2%) (95% CI 81.9-82.1) had mixed growth. Escherichia coli was the most frequently isolated bacteria (n=2360, 44.5%) (95% CI 2360-2360), followed by Proteus mirabilis (n=585, 11%) (95% CI 583-583), Enterococcus faecium (n=277, 5.2%) (95% CI 277-277) and Staphylococcus pseudintermedius (n=226, 4.3%) (95% CI 226-226). The overall susceptibility rates were low for erythromycin (45.3%) and clindamycin (51.3%), and high for aminoglycosides (96.3%), carbapenems (92.4%), trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (81.2%), and quinolones (79.9%). E. coli also showed considerable resistance to amoxicillin-clavulanic acid. The rates of multidrug-resistant bacteria are still high compared to the northern countries of Europe. This study's findings show the emergence of antibiotic resistance in the antibiotic agents commonly used in the treatment of UTIs in dogs and cats in Portugal.

Veterinary antimicrobial prescribing practices for treatment of presumptive sporadic urinary tract infections in dogs examined at primary care practices in the United States (2010-2019).

To describe patterns of antimicrobial prescriptions for sporadic urinary tract infections (UTIs) in dogs in the United States from 2010 through 2019, including times before and after publication of International Society for Companion Animal Infectious Disease (ISCAID) guidelines. 461,244 qualifying visits for sporadic UTIs. Veterinary electronic medical records of a private corporation consisting of > 1,000 clinics across the United States were examined to identify canine visits for potential sporadic UTI between January 1, 2010, and December 31, 2019. Proportions of antimicrobial prescriptions were graphed by month and year to identify changes in prescription patterns over time. Interrupted time series analysis was performed for the aminopenicillins. A total of 461,244 qualifying visits were examined, with 389,949 (85%) of these resulting in at least 1 antimicrobial prescription. Over the 10-year period, the proportion of visits resulting in no antimicrobial prescription increased (14% in 2010 to 19.7% in 2019). Proportions of prescriptions for amoxicillin (38% to 48%) and amoxicillin-clavulanic acid (2.5% to 10%) also increased. Log-linear regression supported that changes in proportions of amoxicillin and amoxicillin-clavulanic acid prescriptions occurred following the 2011 ISCAID guidelines publication, with the proportion of amoxicillin prescriptions increasing by 13% per year (95% CI, 12% to 14%; P < 0.01) and the proportion of amoxicillin-clavulanic acid prescriptions increasing by 0.5% per year (95% CI, 0.2% to 0.8%; P < 0.01). Use of fluoroquinolones and third-generation cephalosporins remained constant. Results suggest that efforts to guide antimicrobial use in veterinary clinical practice are having positive effects in this private veterinary company, though continued efforts are warranted.

Untargeted Metabolomics Identify a Panel of Urinary Biomarkers for the Diagnosis of Urothelial Carcinoma of the Bladder, as Compared to Urolithiasis with or without Urinary Tract Infection in Dogs.

Urothelial carcinoma (UC), the most common urologic cancer in dogs, is often diagnosed late because the clinical signs are shared by other non-malignant lower urinary tract disorders (LUTD). The urine-based BRAFV595E test for UC is highly effective only in certain breeds; hence additional non-invasive biomarkers of UC are needed. Here, urine from dogs with UC (n = 27), urolithiasis (n = 8), or urolithiasis with urinary tract infection (UTI) (n = 8) were subjected to untargeted metabolomics analyses, using GC-TOF-MS for primary metabolites, QTOF-MS for complex lipids, and HILIC-QTOF MS for secondary and charged metabolites. After adjusting for age and sex, we identified 1123 known metabolites that were differentially expressed between UC and LUTD. Twenty-seven metabolites were significant (1.5 ≤ log2FC ≤ −1.5, adjusted p-value < 0.05); however, 10 of these could be attributed to treatment-related changes. Of the remaining 17, 6 (hippuric acid, N-Acetylphenylalanine, sarcosine, octanoylcarnitine, N-alpha-methylhistamine, glycerol-3-galactoside) discriminated between UC and LUTD (area under the ROC curve > 0.85). Of the 6 metabolites, only hippuric acid and N-alpha-methylhistamine were discriminatory in both male (n = 20) and female (n = 23) dogs, while sarcosine was an effective discriminator in several breeds, but only in females. Further investigation of these metabolites is warranted for potential use as non-invasive diagnostic biomarkers of dogs with UC that present with LUTD-related clinical signs.

Molecular Detection of Ampicillin Resistant Genes in E. coli Isolates from ‎Dogs in India

The most common cause of urinary tract infection in dogs is uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC). This condition often presents with vaginal discharge, dribbling of urine, straining or vocalization while urinating due to pain. Furthermore, the following signs are also noticeable: hematuria, lethargy, proteinuria, dysuria, cystitis, and oliguria. The aim of this research was to investigate the genes of ampicillin resistance in E. coli isolates from dogs with urinary tract infections. Out of 103 urine samples cultured (Blood agar, MacConkey’s lactose agar and Eosin methylene blue agar), 24.3% were positive for uropathogenic Escherichia coli. The positive isolates were further subjected to antimicrobial sensitivity test and PCR analysis. All the uropathogenic Escherichia coli isolates were resistant to ampicillin while 96% were resistant to Cloxacillin and Oxytetracycline. Susceptibility to Meropenem, Gentamicin and Amikacin were 64 %, 44 % and 40% respectively. All the 25 strains of the E. coli were identified to be resistant to two or more antibiotics. The PCR result showed the presence of blaAMPC in all the samples and 60 % had blaTEM genes responsible for ampicillin resistance. However, none of the isolates were positive for the blaSHV gene.The presence of the blaAMPC and blaTEM genes in the dogs studied resulted in ampicillin resistance, with blaAMPC being the most commonly detected ampicillin gene in Escherichia coli in the study area. Meropenem was also found to be a good choice for treating uropathogenic E. coli infection in dogs.

Reclassification of [Haemophilus] haemoglobinophilus as Canicola haemoglobinophilus gen. nov., comb. nov. including Bisgaard taxon 35

[Haemophilus] haemoglobinophilus and the unpublished Bisgaard taxon 35 are associated with respiratory and urogenital tract infections in dogs. A total of 21 strains including the type strain of [Haemophilus] haemoglobinophilus were included in the investigation. Strains of [Haemophilus] haemoglobinophilus and taxon 35 formed a monophyletic group demonstrating at least 97.8 and 96.5% similarities within the group based upon 16S rRNA and rpoB gene sequence comparisons, respectively. Glaesserella australis was the most closely related species to [Haemophilus] haemoglobinophilus and taxon 35 with 96.1 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity which is slightly higher than the 95 % separating most genera of the family Pasteurellaceae. However, the conserved protein sequence phylogeny documented a unique position of [Haemophilus] haemoglobinophilus with only 81 % identity to the most closely related species, genomospecies 1 of the genus Rodentibacter which is lower than the 85 % separating most genera of the family Pasteurellaceae. The conserved protein sequence identity to Haemophilus influenzae, the type species of the genus, was 77%, demonstrating that [Haemophilus] haemoglobinophilus is not properly classified as a member of the genus Haemophilus. On the basis of the phylogenetic comparisons, the taxa [Haemophilus] haemoglobinophilus and taxon 35 are proposed to be included with a novel genus Canicola with one species, Canicola haemoglobinophilus which is reclassified from [Haemophilus] haemoglobinophilus. Phenotypic characters obtained with isolates genetically approved to represent Canicola haemoglobinophilus were in accordance with those of the members of the family Pasteurellaceae, and the novel genus can be separated from most of the existing genera by a positive catalase reaction, lack of V-factor requirement for growth, lack of haemolysis of blood agar and negative Voges-Proskauer and urease tests. The novel genus cannot be separated by biochemical and physiological characteristics alone from the genera Aggregatibacter, Avibacterium, Frederiksenia and Spirabiliibacterium. However, MALDI-TOF mass spectroscopy and also RpoB amino acid signatures allowed a clear separation from these taxa, supporting the existence of a novel genus. The DNA G+C content is 37.0-37.8 mol% for the genus, based on the whole genomic sequences. The type strain of Canicola haemoglobinophilus is CCUG 3714T (=ATCC 19416T=NCTC 1659T) isolated in 1901 from the prepuce of a dog in Germany.

Kedi ve köpeklerin ürogenital sistem infeksiyonlarından izole edilen Escherichia coli'lerin virulens faktörlerinin belirlenmesi

In this study, virulence factors such as serum resistance, aerobactin iron uptake systems, adhesins (type 1 fimbria, P fimbria, S fimbria, afimbrial adhesins), haemolysine, uropathogenic spesific protein and cytotoxic necrotizing factor in 45 Escherichia coli isolates from dogs and cats with urinary tract and genital system infections, were investigated by both phenotypic methods and molecular methods. In PCR examinations of 45 E. coli, hlyA gene was detected in 73.3% of all isolates. fimH was found in 100%, papC in 71.1%, sfaDE in 82.2%, and afaBC in 0% of the isolates. iucD, traT, usp, cnf1 and cvaC genes were found in 20%, 71.1%, 84.4%, 75.5%, and 11.1% of the isolates, respectively. According to the isolation rate of hlyA and haemolytic activity on blood agar, this virulence factor is commonly seen in these strains and important in these infections especially pathogenesis. İsolates was found to be a high rate positive for usp gene. This result suggested that this strain may have higher infectivity. Cytotoxic necrotizing factor was common and important virulence factor in uropathogenic E. coli and prognosis of infection. However, colisin encoding gene (cvaC) only were detected from 5 of urine samples from dogs. This virulence factor could be important for the urinary tract infections in dogs rather than cats. Haemolysis, type 1 fimbriae, P fimbriae, S fimbriae, cnf, serum resistance, uropathogenic specific protein were detected at high rates by molecular method. In E. coli strains isolated from dogs, virulence factors were found to be higher than cat isolates.

Antimicrobial drug resistance profile of isolated bacteria in dogs and cats with urologic problems at Chiang Mai University Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Thailand (2012-2016).

The present study aimed to estimate the proportion of bacterial urinary tract infection (UTI) in dogs and cats, assess risks associated with bacterial UTI, and to determine bacterial isolates' antimicrobial susceptibility and resistance pattern from the urinary tract of dogs and cats with urologic problems. The medical records from animals visiting Chiang Mai University Small Animal Veterinary Teaching Hospital between January 2012 and December 2016 were reviewed. In total, 203 dogs and 49 cats with urinary tract diseases that had samples submitted for bacterial culture were identified;198 and 24 bacterial isolates were recovered from dogs' and cats' submitted samples, respectively. At least one episode of bacterial UTI was detected in 75.4% (95% CI: 69.4-81.3) of dogs and in 40.8% (95% CI: 26.6-55.1) of cats with UTI and submitted urine cultures. Of 242 submitted urinary samples from dogs and 60 urinary samples from cats, bacteria were identified in 74.0% (95% CI: 68.4-79.5) and 38.3% (95% CI: 26.0-50.6), respectively. The most common pathogen of bacteria positive cultured from dogs was Staphylococcus spp. (30.3%), followed by Escherichia coli (16.7%), and Proteus spp. (13.6%). For cats, the most common pathogen was Pseudomonas spp. (25.0%), followed by E.coli (20.8%) and Proteus spp. (16.7%). Staphylococcus spp. isolates from dogs and Proteus spp. isolates from cats were highly susceptible to Amoxicillin/clavulanic acid (AMC) at 88% and 75%, respectively. Of all isolated bacteria, 67.1% of the bacteria from dogs and 83.3% from cats were multidrug-resistant (MDR). The proportion of MDR-bacterial urinary tract infections in dogs and cats with urologic problems in this study was high. This observation raises concerns regarding the potential of zoonotic transmission of MDR-bacteria from these companion animals. The results suggested that AMC remains a good empirical drug for treating UTIs in dogs in this region.

Characterization of antimicrobial-resistant Escherichia coli causing urinary tract infections in dogs: Passive surveillance in Saskatchewan, Canada 2014 to 2018.

BackgroundUrinary tract infections (UTIs) are common in dogs and can be caused by multidrug‐resistant Escherichia coli (E coli).ObjectiveTo describe the frequency and mechanisms of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) among E coli causing UTIs in dogs in Western Canada during a 4‐year surveillance period.AnimalsUrine from 516 dogs.MethodsFrom November 2014 to 2018, 516 nonduplicate E coli isolates from the urine of dogs were collected from a diagnostic laboratory. Susceptibility testing was determined for a panel of 14 antimicrobials belonging to 7 drug classes. Resistant isolates were screened for the presence of extended‐spectrum beta‐lactamases (ESBLs), AmpC β‐lactamases, and plasmid‐mediated quinolone resistance (PMQR) genes. Epidemiological relationships were assessed by MLST.Results80.2% (414/516) of isolates were susceptible to all antimicrobials tested. There was no significant increase in the proportion of isolates resistant to any of the tested antimicrobials during the study period. Resistance to ampicillin was the most common (14.9%, 77/516). Overall, 12 isolates had bla CMY‐2‐type AmpC β‐lactamases, and 7 produced CTX‐M‐type ESBLs. A single isolate had the aac(6′)‐Ib‐cr PMQR gene. The qnr and qepA determinants were not detected. A single isolate belonging to the pandemic lineage ST131 was identified.Conclusion Escherichia coli isolated from the urine of dogs in our region remain susceptible to first‐line therapies, though resistance, particularly to the aminopenicillins, warrants monitoring. This is the first description of E coli ST131 from a companion animal in Canada.

Isolation and Atibiotyping of Pseudomonas spp. Associated with Bovine Diarrhea

Bovine diarrhoea is a multifactorial disease involving infectious and non-infectious factors. Various pathogens of bacterial origin are responsible for the diarrhoea in cattle. Gram-negative bacteria are considered as the most common etiological agents isolated from clinical cases of diarrhea. Among Gram negative bacteria, Pseudomonas is considered as the opportunistic pathogen and associated with various problems of medical and veterinary importance including ear and urinary tract infections in dogs, mastitis and metritis in dairy cows and endometritis in horses. During the present study, 47 faecal samples were collected from the clinical cases of bovine diarrhea in Meerut city, Uttar Pradesh for isolation, identification and antibiotyping of Pseudomonas spp. Out of these faecal samples, Pseudomonas spp. could be isolated from six samples indicating the positivity of 12.77%. All the isolates of Pseudomonas spp. were subjected to in vitro antibiogram testing using 7 antimicrobials viz., enrofloxacin, gentamicin, streptomycin, amikacin, oxytetracyclin, ceftriaxone and metronidazole. All the Pseudomonas isolates were resistant to streptomycin, oxytetracyclin and metronidazole. The antibiotic susceptibility profile of the isolates was for ceftriaxone and gentamicin (50% each) and for enrofloxacin and amikacin (33.33% each). Antimicrobial sensitivity analysis of all the six Pseudomonas isolates revealed 04 different biotypes. The study revealed that isolates were found resistant to a number of antibiotics/antimicrobials ranging from 02 to 07. The isolates showing more susceptibility to enrofloxacin and amikacin may be used for the treatment of bovine diarrhea associated with Pseudomonas spp. This further recommended the use of routine antibiotic sensitivity testing before the treatment to avoid dissemination of antimicrobial resistance among microbes.

International Society for Companion Animal Infectious Diseases (ISCAID) guidelines for the diagnosis and management of bacterial urinary tract infections in dogs and cats

International Society for Companion Animal Infectious Diseases (ISCAID) guidelines for the diagnosis and management of bacterial urinary tract infections in dogs and cats

Use of Local Antibiogram Data and Antimicrobial Importance Ratings to Select Optimal Empirical Therapies for Urinary Tract Infections in Dogs and Cats.

International and Australian veterinary antimicrobial use guidelines recommend amoxicillin or trimethoprim-sulfonamide (TMS) for the empirical treatment of sporadic urinary tract infections (UTIs) in dogs and cats. However, in practice, these antibiotics are rarely used, and no large-scale analyses have examined the antibiograms of bacteria isolated from UTIs to validate these recommendations in Australia. We analyzed five years of urine culture and antimicrobial susceptibility data from an Australian veterinary laboratory. The analysis included 6196 urinary isolates from dogs and cats, 78% of which were from samples submitted by first-opinion veterinary clinics. Escherichia coli, Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus pseudintermedius and Proteus spp. were the most prevalent organisms. More than 80% of all isolated cocci were susceptible to amoxicillin, and more than 80% of bacilli were susceptible to TMS. A total of 94% of isolates were susceptible to at least one antimicrobial drug categorized as low-importance in Australia. The prevalence of multi-drug resistance (MDR) was highest in E. coli, at 9.7%; 84% of these MDR isolates were susceptible to amoxicillin-clavulanate. We performed population-level antimicrobial treatment simulations and proposed a novel method for integrating antimicrobial importance ratings with antibiogram data to optimize the selection of empirical therapy. Our findings support current guideline recommendations to use amoxicillin or TMS. We also found that bacterial morphology assisted with selection; amoxicillin was a better choice for cocci and TMS for bacilli.

Urinary tract infections in dogs with spontaneous hypercortisolism - frequency, symptoms and involved pathogens.

Dogs with hypercortisolism are predisposed to developing bacteriuria associated either with clinical signs of cystitis or without clinical signs (subclinical bacteriuria). Based on current guidelines, dogs with subclinical bacteriuria should not be treated with antibiotics because there is no evidence that treatment improves outcome and because unnecessary treatments should be avoided. Before these guidelines were published in 2019, dogs with hypercortisolism and bacteriuria were commonly treated with antibiotics irrespective of clinical signs. Comprehensive data on the frequency of bacterial cystitis, subclinical bacteriuria and the outcome of antimicrobial treatment in dogs with hypercortisolism is sparse. The aims of this study were to investigate dogs with hypercortisolism for the presence of bacterial cystitis and subclinical bacteriuria, to address the pathogens involved, and to assess the outcome of antibiotic treatment. Dogs newly diagnosed with hypercortisolism between 2005 and 2015 from which a urine bacterial culture was available were included. Statistical analysis was performed with non-parametric tests. Of the 161client-owned dogs included, 29 (18%) showed bacteriuria, which was subclinical in 24 (83%) cases. Escherichia coli was the most commonly isolated pathogen (58%). Bacteriuria was not associated with sex or neutering status. In 14 dogs, follow-up data was available, of which 13 (93%) were treated with antimicrobials for 14 to 28 days. Follow-up bacterial culture (1 to 118 days after cessation of therapy) was negative in 10 (77%) treated dogs; a negative follow-up culture was not associated with gender, age or duration of treatment. Bacteriuria persisted in three treated dogs and the one untreated dog. The prevalence of positive bacterial urinary culture in dogs with hypercortisolism was lower than previously reported. In the majority of dogs, bacteriuria was subclinical. Most dogs had a negative bacterial culture result after antimicrobial treatment; however, more resistant bacteria were detected in persistently positive urine.