Investigating Bacterial Bloodstream Infections in Dogs and Cats: A 4-Year Surveillance in an Italian Veterinary University Hospital
In small animal practice, blood cultures (BCs) are essential for diagnosing bacterial bloodstream infections (BSIs) and guiding targeted antimicrobial therapy, particularly in relation to the rise of multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogens. This study analyzed 96 positive BCs from dogs and cats at the V...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-05-01
|
| Series: | Veterinary Sciences |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2306-7381/12/5/445 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849327142916063232 |
|---|---|
| author | Raffaele Scarpellini Massimo Giunti Cecilia Bulgarelli Erika Esposito Elisabetta Mondo Fabio Tumietto Silvia Piva |
| author_facet | Raffaele Scarpellini Massimo Giunti Cecilia Bulgarelli Erika Esposito Elisabetta Mondo Fabio Tumietto Silvia Piva |
| author_sort | Raffaele Scarpellini |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In small animal practice, blood cultures (BCs) are essential for diagnosing bacterial bloodstream infections (BSIs) and guiding targeted antimicrobial therapy, particularly in relation to the rise of multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogens. This study analyzed 96 positive BCs from dogs and cats at the Veterinary University Hospital (VUH) of Bologna (2020–2024), assessing bacterial prevalence, antimicrobial resistance, and associated risk factors. <i>Escherichia coli</i> was the most common isolate (29/96), followed by <i>Streptococcus canis</i> (11/96). MDR percentage was 29.2% (28/96), with Gram-negatives associated with higher rates (<i>p</i> = 0.040). Nearly half of the cases (46.9%, 45/96) were suspected healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) significantly associated with the number of invasive devices used (<i>p</i> = 0.008) and with the absence of co-positive samples (<i>p</i> = 0.012). Empirical antibiotic therapy was administered in 94.8% (91/96) of cases, with ampicillin–sulbactam and marbofloxacin as the most used drugs. In vitro empirical therapy appropriateness was 76.9% (70/91). MDR was associated with inappropriate empirical therapy (<i>p</i> < 0.001). Mortality within 30 days was 36.5% (35/96), significantly linked to antibiotic escalation (<i>p</i> = 0.006). The findings highlight the need for systematic BC surveillance in veterinary settings to optimize treatment strategies (especially in countries with restrictions on antibiotic use in animals) to mitigate MDR spread and to protect public health. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-198a885886aa4593935b5368f2d74e23 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2306-7381 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Veterinary Sciences |
| spelling | doaj-art-198a885886aa4593935b5368f2d74e232025-08-20T03:47:58ZengMDPI AGVeterinary Sciences2306-73812025-05-0112544510.3390/vetsci12050445Investigating Bacterial Bloodstream Infections in Dogs and Cats: A 4-Year Surveillance in an Italian Veterinary University HospitalRaffaele Scarpellini0Massimo Giunti1Cecilia Bulgarelli2Erika Esposito3Elisabetta Mondo4Fabio Tumietto5Silvia Piva6Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum—University of Bologna, Via Tolara di Sopra n 50, 40064 Ozzano dell’Emilia, ItalyDepartment of Veterinary Medical Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum—University of Bologna, Via Tolara di Sopra n 50, 40064 Ozzano dell’Emilia, ItalyDepartment of Veterinary Medical Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum—University of Bologna, Via Tolara di Sopra n 50, 40064 Ozzano dell’Emilia, ItalyDepartment of Veterinary Medical Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum—University of Bologna, Via Tolara di Sopra n 50, 40064 Ozzano dell’Emilia, ItalyDepartment of Veterinary Medical Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum—University of Bologna, Via Tolara di Sopra n 50, 40064 Ozzano dell’Emilia, ItalyUnit of Antimicrobial Stewardship, Local Health Authority of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, ItalyDepartment of Veterinary Medical Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum—University of Bologna, Via Tolara di Sopra n 50, 40064 Ozzano dell’Emilia, ItalyIn small animal practice, blood cultures (BCs) are essential for diagnosing bacterial bloodstream infections (BSIs) and guiding targeted antimicrobial therapy, particularly in relation to the rise of multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogens. This study analyzed 96 positive BCs from dogs and cats at the Veterinary University Hospital (VUH) of Bologna (2020–2024), assessing bacterial prevalence, antimicrobial resistance, and associated risk factors. <i>Escherichia coli</i> was the most common isolate (29/96), followed by <i>Streptococcus canis</i> (11/96). MDR percentage was 29.2% (28/96), with Gram-negatives associated with higher rates (<i>p</i> = 0.040). Nearly half of the cases (46.9%, 45/96) were suspected healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) significantly associated with the number of invasive devices used (<i>p</i> = 0.008) and with the absence of co-positive samples (<i>p</i> = 0.012). Empirical antibiotic therapy was administered in 94.8% (91/96) of cases, with ampicillin–sulbactam and marbofloxacin as the most used drugs. In vitro empirical therapy appropriateness was 76.9% (70/91). MDR was associated with inappropriate empirical therapy (<i>p</i> < 0.001). Mortality within 30 days was 36.5% (35/96), significantly linked to antibiotic escalation (<i>p</i> = 0.006). The findings highlight the need for systematic BC surveillance in veterinary settings to optimize treatment strategies (especially in countries with restrictions on antibiotic use in animals) to mitigate MDR spread and to protect public health.https://www.mdpi.com/2306-7381/12/5/445antimicrobial resistanceveterinary medicinecompanion animalsbloodstream infectionsblood culturesantibiotic de-escalation |
| spellingShingle | Raffaele Scarpellini Massimo Giunti Cecilia Bulgarelli Erika Esposito Elisabetta Mondo Fabio Tumietto Silvia Piva Investigating Bacterial Bloodstream Infections in Dogs and Cats: A 4-Year Surveillance in an Italian Veterinary University Hospital Veterinary Sciences antimicrobial resistance veterinary medicine companion animals bloodstream infections blood cultures antibiotic de-escalation |
| title | Investigating Bacterial Bloodstream Infections in Dogs and Cats: A 4-Year Surveillance in an Italian Veterinary University Hospital |
| title_full | Investigating Bacterial Bloodstream Infections in Dogs and Cats: A 4-Year Surveillance in an Italian Veterinary University Hospital |
| title_fullStr | Investigating Bacterial Bloodstream Infections in Dogs and Cats: A 4-Year Surveillance in an Italian Veterinary University Hospital |
| title_full_unstemmed | Investigating Bacterial Bloodstream Infections in Dogs and Cats: A 4-Year Surveillance in an Italian Veterinary University Hospital |
| title_short | Investigating Bacterial Bloodstream Infections in Dogs and Cats: A 4-Year Surveillance in an Italian Veterinary University Hospital |
| title_sort | investigating bacterial bloodstream infections in dogs and cats a 4 year surveillance in an italian veterinary university hospital |
| topic | antimicrobial resistance veterinary medicine companion animals bloodstream infections blood cultures antibiotic de-escalation |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2306-7381/12/5/445 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT raffaelescarpellini investigatingbacterialbloodstreaminfectionsindogsandcatsa4yearsurveillanceinanitalianveterinaryuniversityhospital AT massimogiunti investigatingbacterialbloodstreaminfectionsindogsandcatsa4yearsurveillanceinanitalianveterinaryuniversityhospital AT ceciliabulgarelli investigatingbacterialbloodstreaminfectionsindogsandcatsa4yearsurveillanceinanitalianveterinaryuniversityhospital AT erikaesposito investigatingbacterialbloodstreaminfectionsindogsandcatsa4yearsurveillanceinanitalianveterinaryuniversityhospital AT elisabettamondo investigatingbacterialbloodstreaminfectionsindogsandcatsa4yearsurveillanceinanitalianveterinaryuniversityhospital AT fabiotumietto investigatingbacterialbloodstreaminfectionsindogsandcatsa4yearsurveillanceinanitalianveterinaryuniversityhospital AT silviapiva investigatingbacterialbloodstreaminfectionsindogsandcatsa4yearsurveillanceinanitalianveterinaryuniversityhospital |