Influence of administration of antimicrobial medications after tibial plateau leveling osteotomy on surgical site infections: A retrospective study of 308 dogs.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the influence of prophylactic administration of oral antimicrobial medications after tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO) on surgical site infections (SSI) and antimicrobial-resistant infections. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective study. SAMPLE POPULATION: Dogs treated with unilateral TPLO (n = 308) between January 2013 and December 2015. METHODS: Medical records were reviewed for signalment, surgically treated limb, duration of surgery and anesthesia, postoperative administration of antimicrobial medications, antibiotic agent, surgeon, and development of SSI. Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, simple linear regression, analysis of variance, Fisher's protected least significant difference, and χ2 testing. RESULTS: Data were collected from records of 31 dogs that did not receive antimicrobial medications and 277 dogs that did receive oral antimicrobial medications for 14 days after TPLO. Superficial incisional SSI was detected in two of 31 dogs that did not receive antimicrobial medications and in 48 of 277 dogs that did receive antimicrobial medications (P = .1194). Deep incisional SSI occurred in two of 31 dogs that did not receive antimicrobial medications and in 27 of 277 dogs that did receive antimicrobial medications (P = .5513). Antibiotic-resistant deep incisional SSI occurred in two of 31 dogs that did not receive antimicrobial medications and in 18 of 277 dogs that did receive antimicrobial medications (P = .9920). Body weight correlated with deep incisional SSI and resistant infections. Prolonged duration of surgery and anesthesia were associated with superficial incisional SSI, deep incisional SSI, and antibiotic resistance. Surgeons influenced deep incisional SSI. CONCLUSION: Previously reported predisposing factors for infection were confirmed, but postoperative administration of antimicrobial medications was not protective against SSI nor did it predispose to antibiotic resistance in our clinical setting. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: This study does not provide evidence to support administration of prophylactic oral antimicrobial medications after unilateral TPLO.

Evaluation of bacterial contamination on surgical drapes following use of the Bair Hugger(®) forced air warming system.

This pilot study determined the rate of bacterial contamination on surgical drapes of small animal patients warmed intra-operatively with the Bair Hugger(®) forced air warming system compared to a control method. Surgical drapes of 100 patients undergoing clean surgical procedures were swabbed with aerobic culturettes at the beginning and end of surgery. Samples were cultured on Trypticase soy agar. Contamination of the surgical drapes was identified in 6/98 cases (6.1%). There was no significant difference in the number of contaminated surgical drapes between the Bair Hugger(®) and control groups (P = 0.47).

Évaluation de la contamination bactérienne des champs opératoires après l'utilisation du système de chauffage à air pulsé Bair HuggerMD . Cette étude pilote a déterminé le taux de contamination bactérienne des champs opératoires de patients petits animaux réchauffés lors du processus peropératoire à l'aide du système de chauffage à air pulsé Bair HuggerMD comparativement à une méthode témoin. Les champs opératoires de 100 patients subissant des interventions chirurgicales propres ont été écouvillonnés avec des Culturettes aérobies au début et à la fin de la chirurgie. Les échantillons ont été cultivés sur gélose Trypticase soja. La contamination des champs opératoires a été identifiée dans 6/98 cas (6,1 %). Il n'y avait aucune différence significative dans le nombre de champs opératoires contaminés entre le groupe Bair HuggerMD et le groupe témoin (P = 0,47).(Traduit par Isabelle Vallières).

Evaluation of intracranial meningioma resection with a surgical aspirator in dogs: 17 cases (1996-2004).

OBJECTIVE: To determine results of intracranial meningioma resection by use of a surgical aspirator and assess prognostic factors associated with intracranial meningiomas in dogs. DESIGN: Retrospective case series. ANIMALS: 17 dogs. PROCEDURES: Medical records of dogs that underwent resection of an intracranial meningioma by use of a surgical aspirator were reviewed. Information pertaining to signalment, imaging findings, clinical signs, duration of clinical signs, preoperative treatment, location of the tumor, results of histologic assessment, outcome, and necropsy results was obtained from the medical record. Clients and referring veterinarians were contacted via telephone for information on recurrence of clinical signs and postoperative survival time. RESULTS: 16 dogs were > 7 years of age, and all 17 dogs had seizures before surgery. The most commonly affected breed was the Golden Retriever, represented by 6 of the 17 dogs. Median survival time was 1,254 days. Of the data collected, only histologic subtype of the tumor was prognostic. Analysis of survival times according to histologic tumor subtypes indicated that the order from most brief to longest was as follows: anaplastic, 0 days; fibroblastic, 10 days; psammomatous, > 313 days; meningothelial, > 523 days; and transitional, 1,254 days. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Use of a surgical aspirator to resect intracranial meningiomas in dogs was associated with longer survival times than those achieved with traditional surgery alone or traditional surgery combined with radiation therapy. Dogs with meningothelial, psammomatous, or transitional intracranial meningioma subtypes appeared to have a better prognosis than dogs with other subtypes of meningioma.