A Spanish Survey on the Perioperative Use of Antimicrobials in Small Animals.

Appropriate use of perioperative antimicrobials can significantly reduce the risk of post-operative infections. However, inappropriate antimicrobial use can result in the creation of multidrug-resistant bacteria, increased costs, host flora disruption, side effects and increased risk of hospital-acquired infections. This survey evaluated the current perioperative use of antimicrobials in small animals by Spanish veterinarians using a web-based questionnaire. Responses were represented using descriptive statistics and a statistical analysis of the association between demographic data and perioperative antimicrobial use was performed. Pre-operative antimicrobials were administered in clean surgery by up to 68.3% of participants, 81.0% in clean-contaminated surgery and 71.3% in dirty surgery, while in the post-operative period, antimicrobials were administered by up to 86.3% of participants in clean surgery, 93.2% in clean-contaminated surgery and 87.5% in dirty surgery. Factors considered "very important" for antimicrobial selection were the degree of wound contamination, patient immunosuppression and use of prosthesis. The most frequently used antimicrobial was beta-lactamase-resistant (or potentiated) penicillin. Post-operative antimicrobial use was associated with participants without specific surgical postgraduate training. This study highlights an overuse of antimicrobials in perioperative procedures in small animal surgery in Spain. Therefore, evidence-based guidelines and further education regarding the correct use of antimicrobial prophylaxis are recommended.

Use of intraoperative impression smear cytology to guide successful treatment of a large renal cyst in a dog: a case report.

A 13-yr-old Shih tzu was referred for surgical management of right-sided cranial abdominal mass, which corresponded to large, cavitated renal mass on ultrasonography, and was suspected to represent neoplasia. Intraoperative impression smear cytology (ISC) of the renal mass wall was consistent with benign renal cyst (RC), without evidence of neoplasia or infection. Deroofing and omentalisation were performed and histopathology was consistent with benign RC. Chronic kidney disease was diagnosed 4 mon postoperatively, however, the dog was asymptomatic, without cyst reoccurrence. Intraoperative ISC is an expedient and inexpensive diagnostic technique that can guide most appropriate treatment in dogs with large RCs.