Intra- and Post-Operative Bacteriological Surveys of Surgical Site in Horses: A Single-Centre Study.

ABSTRACT: Bacterial contamination of the surgical site in horses is a major risk factor for the development of surgical site infections (SSIs), which increase morbidity, mortality, the hospitalisation period, antibiotic use, and management costs. While contamination is a prerequisite for infection, its progression to clinical infection depends on additional factors that compromise host defences. The present study, conducted at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital of the University of Perugia over an 11-month period, investigated bacterial contamination in 70 surgeries (53 clean and 17 clean-contaminated) at the end of the procedure. To exclude pre-existing contamination, a sterile swab was collected after surgical scrub, and only cases that entered surgery with a sterile operative field were considered.

SUBMITTER: Cerullo A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12029434 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature