Search Results

Abstract

Objective—To determine prevalence of bacterial contamination of surgical suction tips.

Sample Population—Surgical tips used during 44 surgical procedures performed on 42 dogs and 2 cats.

Procedure—Surgical procedures were classified into 1 of 3 categories according to degree of bacterial contamination of the surgical site (clean, clean-contaminated, contaminated). Two sets of suction apparatuses were used for test and control suction tips. Test tips were used normally to suction blood and fluid, whereas control tips were placed on the surgical drapes but not in the surgical wound. Suction tips were collected aseptically and placed into thioglycolate broth tubes for qualitative aerobic and anaerobic bacterial culture at the end of each procedure.

Results—Test and control suction tips were contaminated with bacteria during 30 of 44 (68%) procedures. Staphylococcus spp were the predominant bacteria in tips used during clean and clean-contaminated surgeries. When surgery was performed on clean-contaminated or contaminated wounds, prevalence of isolation of other bacteria such as Pseudomonas spp, Streptococcus spp, and Escherichia coli from both test and control suction tips was higher than for clean wounds. Mean time of procedures during which both test and control suction tips became contaminated was not significantly different from time of procedures during which neither tip became contaminated.

Conclusion and Clinical Relevance—Surgical suction tips often become contaminated during standard veterinary surgical procedures. The risk of wound infection after surgery may be influenced by bacterial contamination of surgical suction tips. (Am J Vet Res 2000;61:779–783)

Abstract

Objective—To determine effects of oral administration of metronidazole on the number and species of duodenal bacteria and selective nutrients of cats.

Animals—6 healthy domestic shorthair cats.

Procedure—Undiluted duodenal fluid was obtained for quantitative and qualitative bacterial culture to determine species and number of bacteria in healthy cats. Blood samples were assayed for taurine, total protein, albumin, cobalamin, and folate concentrations. Cats then were given metronidazole (20 mg/kg of body weight, PO, q 12 h) for 1 month, after which bacterial cultures and serum assays of nutrients were repeated. Nine months after cessation of antibiotic treatment, duodenal bacteria were re-evaluated and serum was assayed for total protein, albumin, cobalamin, and folate concentrations.

Results—Oral administration of metronidazole caused a significant decrease in aerobic and anaerobic bacterial counts in the duodenum of healthy cats, accompanied by emergence of Streptococcus spp and Corynebacterium spp. Serum concentrations of cobalamin and albumin increased when duodenal bacterial counts were decreased, although changes in folate or taurine concentrations were not detected. Measured variables did not differ, when comparing results obtained before and 9 months after cessation of metronidazole.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Oral administration of metronidazole decreased the number of aerobic bacteria and altered indigenous flora in the small bowel of cats. Normal duodenal flora appeared to be stable, because species of bacteria were reestablished by 9 months after cessation of metronidazole. Bacterial flora appeared to have an impact on nutrients, because albumin and cobalamin increased during antibiotic administration and returned to preadministration concentrations after cessation of the antimicrobial. (Am J Vet Res 2000;61:1106–1112)

Abstract

Objective—To determine whether a colony environment predisposes healthy cats to high bacterial counts, including counts of obligate anaerobes, in the duodenum and whether increased numbers of bacteria could be found in the duodenum of cats with signs of chronic gastrointestinal tract disease.

Design—Prospective study.

Animals—20 healthy control cats (10 from a colony environment and 10 pet cats) and 19 cats with a history of chronic gastrointestinal tract disease.

Procedure—Undiluted duodenal fluid was quantitatively and qualitatively assessed by bacteriologic culture under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. Serum concentrations of cobalamin and folate were also measured.

Results—Significant differences were not detected in the numbers of bacteria found in the duodenum of cats housed in a colony environment, compared with pet cats fed an identical diet prior to sampling. All healthy cats were, therefore, combined into 1 control group. Compared with healthy cats, cats with clinical signs of gastrointestinal tract disease had significantly lower counts of microaerophilic bacteria, whereas total, anaerobic, and aerobic bacterial counts were not significantly different. None of the cats with disease had total bacterial counts higher than expected from the range established in the control cats. Differences were not detected in regard to serum folate or cobalamin concentrations between diseased and healthy cats.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—These findings indicated that healthy colony cats and pet cats have high numbers of bacteria in the duodenum, including high numbers of obligate anaerobes. Our findings also suggest that bacterial overgrowth in the small intestine is not a common clinical syndrome in cats with chronic nonobstructive gastrointestinal tract disease. ( J Am Vet Med Assoc 2001;218:48–51)