Methicillin-resistant staphylococcal colonization in dogs entering a veterinary teaching hospital

Nasal, axillary and rectal swabs were collected from 193 dogs admitted to the Ontario Veterinary College Veterinary Teaching Hospital. Enrichment culture was performed and coagulase positive staphylococci were identified via standard methods. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus pseudintermedius was isolated from 4/193 (2.1%) dogs, and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus schleiferi subsp. coagulans were each isolated from 1/193 (0.5%) dogs. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus intermedius was not identified. All S. pseudintermedius isolates were unrelated on pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. Evaluation of the epidemiology of methicillin-resistant staphylococcal colonization is necessary to understand the apparent emergence of these strains and to develop appropriate control strategies.     

Screening for methicillin-resistant staphylococci in dogs admitted to a veterinary teaching hospital

This study investigated the nasal carriage of methicillin-resistant staphylococci (MRS) in dogs (n=177) prior to medical examination or surgery in a veterinary teaching hospital. Nasal swab samples were collected after induction of anaesthesia and incubated overnight in salt enriched trypticase-soy broth. Cultures were analysed on two different agar media containing cefoxitin. Suspected MRS isolates were genotypically identified and characterised by antimicrobial susceptibility testing and staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec)-typing. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) isolates were additionally characterised by spa-typing and multilocus sequence typing. The presence of Panton-Valentine leukocidin (pvl) genes was determined by PCR. MRS carriage was compared between animals with or without an infectious process. Two MRSA were isolated, both belonging to typical Belgian human hospital clones and lacking pvl. Additionally a methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus haemolyticus carrying a type V SCCmec was detected. No relationship was observed between MRS carriage and presence of infections. The results suggest that MRS are present in dogs originating from the community, albeit at a low prevalence. This could pose risks for cross contamination of dogs and their owners.     

Equine viral arteritis at a veterinary teaching hospital

An outbreak of equine viral arteritis (EVA) occurred at a veterinary teaching hospital in the summer and autumn of 1984. Clinical signs were observed in 16 out of 61 hospitalized horses and included ventral, limb and preputial edema, mild conjunctivitis with lacrimation, pyrexia and increased respiratory and heart rates. Of 16 clinically affected horses, 13 were undergoing experimental abdominal surgery and/or were involved in digestion experiments; 9 of the 13 were > 20 years of age. The three other clinically affected horses were client animals. Thirteen client horses developed serologic titers to equine arteritis virus in the absence of clinical signs. The risk of infection was associated with close contact, involvement in the experimental studies being conducted and length of hospitalization. The disease was mild, limited in spread and successfully controlled by quarantine.     

Prevalence and characteristics of pain in dogs and cats examined as outpatients at a veterinary teaching hospital

OBJECTIVE: To determine prevalence of pain among dogs and cats examined as outpatients at a veterinary teaching hospital and characteristics of pain in dogs and cats with evidence of pain. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. ANIMALS: 1,153 dogs and 652 cats examined as outpatients at The Ohio State University during 2002. PROCEDURE: A questionnaire was administered to owners of all dogs and cats. For dogs and cats with evidence of pain, the cause, signs, anatomic location, type (superficial somatic, deep somatic, or visceral), duration, and severity of the pain and the principle mechanism (inflammatory, neuropathic, both, or unknown) responsible for the pain were determined on the basis of questionnaire responses and results of physical examination. The presence of primary hyperalgesia, secondary hyperalgesia, allodynia, and hyposensitivity was recorded. RESULTS: 231 (20%) dogs and 92 (14%) cats had evidence of pain. Dogs with evidence of pain were significantly older and heavier than dogs without. Cats with evidence of pain were significantly older than cats without. In most dogs and cats with evidence of pain, the pain was determined to be of short duration (< 7 days), of mild or moderate severity, somatic, associated with primary hyperalgesia, and inflammatory. Analgesic drugs were frequently administered to dogs with chronic pain, but were not always considered effective. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggest that mild or moderate pain associated with inflammation may be seen in dogs and cats examined as outpatients. Older, heavier dogs and older cats were more likely to have evidence of pain.     

Retrospective study of perioperative antimicrobial use practices in horses undergoing elective arthroscopic surgery at a veterinary teaching hospital

Perioperative antimicrobial administration practices were evaluated retrospectively in 97 horses undergoing elective arthroscopy, and antimicrobial use was compared with standard recommendations for perioperative prophylaxis. Parenteral antimicrobials were administered perioperatively to 95/97 (98%) horses, 88 of which received intravenous sodium penicillin. Time from 1st dose until 1st incision ranged from 30 to 390 min [142 ± 55.6 min, mean ± standard deviation (s), median 135 min], and the first incision was performed greater than 2 half-lives after administration of sodium penicillin in 86/95 (91%) cases. Overall duration of therapy was 30.8 ± 24.2 h (mean ± s). Six (6.3%) horses received only a single preoperative dose, while 63 (66%) horses were treated for 24 h or less. While objective data regarding optimal perioperative antimicrobial prophylaxis are limited, the antimicrobial use practices observed here commonly deviated from standard recommendations for perioperative prophylaxis.     

An outbreak of salmonellosis among horses at a veterinary teaching hospital

Between May 1996 and February 1997, 27 horses and a veterinary student at a veterinary teaching hospital developed apparent nosocomial Salmonella Typhimurium infection. The source of the multiple-drug resistant Salmonella Typhimurium was a neonatal foal admitted for treatment of septicemia. A high infection rate (approx 13% of hospitalized horses) coupled with a high case fatality rate (44%) for the initial 18 horses affected led to a decision to close the hospital for extensive cleaning and disinfection. Despite this effort and modification of hospital policies for infection control, 9 additional horses developed nosocomial Salmonella Typhimurium infection during the 6 months after the hospital reopened. Polymerase chain reaction testing of environmental samples was useful in identifying a potential reservoir of the organism in drains in the isolation facility. Coupled with clinical data, comparison of antimicrobial resistance patterns of Salmonella Typhimurium isolates provided a rapid initial means to support or refute nosocomial infection. Although minor changes in the genome of these isolates developed over the course of the outbreak, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis testing further supported that salmonellosis was nosocomial in all 27 horses.     

Characteristics of Salmonella isolated from animals at a veterinary medical teaching hospital

Salmonella belonging to 47 serotypes was isolated from animals at the University of California Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital during the years 1974 to 1983. Salmonella belonging to 12 serotypes accounted for 89% of the 725 isolates. Salmonella typhimurium (including var copenhagen) was the most commonly isolated serotype, but during 1981 to 1983, S krefeld and S saint-paul were predominant. Certain serotypes seemed to be isolated more frequently from extraintestinal sources (S typhi-suis, S dublin). Although resistance to ampicillin, kanamycin, neomycin, streptomycin, and sulfonamides was common (greater than 60% of the isolates were resistant), resistance to chloramphenicol, gentamicin, and trimethoprim-sulfonamides was infrequent, except for isolates of S krefeld and S saint-paul.     

Quality of computerized medical record abstract data at a veterinary teaching hospital

This study was designed to evaluate the quality of data from computerized medical record abstracts at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Ontario Veterinary College. Information in the paper medical record (registration, physical exam, daily progress, laboratory, radiology, anaesthesia and surgery forms), the summary sheet, and the computerized record were compared. A random sample of 100 patient visits from a subset of visits that were identified as all possible dog or cat elective-surgery visits in the computerized records from 1983 through 1991 were used. Clinicians were responsible for summarizing the medical record on the summary sheet and health record technicians entered the information from the summary sheet into the computer record. Most of the discrepancies (n = 33) noted for diagnoses, procedures or complications were due to the lack of transfer of information from the paper forms to the summary sheet. Although the medical record technicians detected and entered some of these (n = 10), most were not entered into the computerized records. The next most-common discrepancies (n = 5) were due to the clinician writing a different entry on the summary sheet than was present on the other paper record forms. Only one record had a miscoded diagnosis and three had miscoded procedures. Misfiled forms in the medical record folders of two patients resulted in one incorrect diagnosis and one incorrect procedure recorded in the computer record. When any discrepancy between the paper and computer record for diagnoses, procedures or complications was considered, 41% of the visits had discrepancies (46% dogs; 36% cats). The percentage varied by surgery status: non-elective surgeries 82%, elective surgeries 37% and non-surgical visits 29%. There was no obvious time trend. The completeness and accuracy of information in the database was inadequate for the intended research on post-operative complications following elective surgeries.     

Epizootiology of endoparasitic infections in pet dogs and cats presented to a veterinary teaching hospital

Prevalences of, and risk factors associated with, protozoan and helminth parasite infections were determined for pet dogs and cats presented to the teaching hospital of the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine. Of 2294 canine fecal specimens, 34.8% were found to contain one or more kinds of parasite, consisting of: hookworms (14.4%); Trichuris vulpis (12.3%); Giardia (7.2%); ascarids (5.5%); coccidia (2.7%); cestodes (1.6%). The following risk factors were identified with infection in dogs: age less than 2 years; urban locality; male sex. Gonadectomy was associated with decreased parasite prevalences in both male and female dogs. Significant seasonal variations in prevalences of hookworm, ascarid and Giardia infections were found in dogs. Of 452 feline fecal specimens tested, 24.6% were positive for parasites, including: ascarids (16.4%); Giardia (3.5%); coccidia (2.9%); cestodes (2.4%); hookworm (1.1%). Host age of less than 2 years was a significant risk factor associated with parasitism in cats. Of 1571 dogs tested for Dirofilaria immitis microfilaremia, 3.7% were positive. Non-urban locality was a significant risk factor for D. immitis infection in dogs.     

Characteristics of pain and response to analgesic treatment in dogs and cats examined at a veterinary teaching hospital emergency service

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the prevalence and characteristics of pain in dogs and cats examined by an emergency service at a veterinary teaching hospital and evaluate the response of dogs and cats with signs of pain to analgesic treatment. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. ANIMALS: 317 dogs and 112 cats. PROCEDURE: A questionnaire was used to categorize the characteristics of pain. The location, cause, and signs of pain were determined by obtaining a thorough history and conducting a physical examination. Pain was categorized by type (superficial somatic, deep somatic, or visceral), mechanism (inflammatory, neuropathic, or both), severity (mild, moderate, or severe), and duration. Evidence for primary or secondary hypersensitivity and hyposensitivity to manipulation was determined. The response to single or multiple analgesic drug administration was assessed. RESULTS: 179 (56%) dogs and 60 (54%) cats had signs of pain. In most of these dogs and cats, pain was classified as acute (< 24 hours' duration) and of moderate severity and was associated with primary hypersensitivity. Most dogs had deep somatic pain; most cats had visceral pain. Inflammation was the most common mechanism. One hundred nineteen (66%) dogs and 41 (68%) cats were treated with analgesic drugs. Analgesic treatment was considered effective in 73 (61%) dogs and 31 (76%) cats. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggest that moderate to severe acute somatic pain caused by inflammation is common in dogs and cats examined by an emergency service and that a combination of multiple analgesic drugs is more effective than any single analgesic drug in the treatment of pain in these dogs and cats.     

Use of personal protective equipment in a radiology room at a veterinary teaching hospital

The use of personal protective equipment by veterinary workers during radiographic imaging is inconsistent. While the self‐reported use of leaded aprons and thyroid shields approaches 100% in some studies, the use of leaded gloves and eyeglasses is much lower. Previous studies describing personal protective equipment use are based on self‐reporting. Objectives of this prospective, observational study were to describe use of leaded personal protective equipment during radiographic imaging by veterinary workers, and to compare observed use with self‐reported use. Use of leaded personal protective equipment during radiographic imaging by veterinary workers was observed over a 10 week period using two motion‐triggered video cameras, and a questionnaire was then completed by workers on their use of personal protective equipment. Workers restrained the animal during 91.8% (753/820) of exposures. An apron and a securely closed thyroid shield were worn for >99% of studies. Gloves were used correctly for 43.6% (156/358) of radiographic studies. Leaded eyeglasses were worn for 1.7% (6/358) of studies. Correct glove use was more frequent during regular working hours than after‐hours for both veterinarians (odds ratio 32.7, P = 0.001) and veterinary students (odds ratio 75.1, P < 0.001). The number of workers in the room was lower when animals were sedated (P = 0.002) or anesthetized (P = 0.017). Workers overestimated their frequency of glove use (P <0.001). In conclusion, workers use personal protective equipment less frequently in an unsupervised environment, and overestimate their use of personal protective equipment. Use of sedation or anesthesia decreases worker exposure to ionizing radiation.     

Environmental surveillance for Salmonella enterica in a veterinary teaching hospital

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the extent of environmental contamination with Salmonella enterica in a veterinary teaching hospital. DESIGN: Longitudinal study. SAMPLES: Environmental samples obtained from 69 representative locations within a veterinary teaching hospital by use of a commercially available electrostatic wipe. PROCEDURE: Environmental samples were obtained for bacteriologic culture, and antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed on each environmental isolate. Environmental isolates were compared with isolates obtained from animals during the same period to investigate potential sources of environmental contamination. RESULTS: 54 S. enterica isolates were recovered from 452 (11.9%) cultured environmental samples. Five different serotypes were recovered; the most common serotypes were S. Newport and S. Agona. Within the 5 serotypes recovered, 10 distinguishable phenotypes were identified by use of serotype and antimicrobial susceptibility patterns. Of the environmental isolates, 41 of 54 (75.9%) could be matched to phenotypes of isolates obtained from animal submissions in the month prior to collection of environmental samples. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results indicated that environments in veterinary hospitals can be frequently contaminated with S. enterica near where infected animals are managed and fecal specimens containing S. enterica are processed for culture in a diagnostic laboratory. Bacteriologic culture of environmental samples collected with electrostatic wipes is an effective means of detecting contamination in a veterinary hospital environment and may be beneficial as part of surveillance activities for other veterinary and animal-rearing facilities.