Comparison of antimicrobial resistance patterns in dogs with bacterial keratitis presented to a veterinary teaching hospital over two multi-year time periods (1993-2003 and 2013-2019) in the Southeastern United States.

OBJECTIVE

To report clinical characteristics of dogs with bacterial keratitis, identify the most common bacterial isolates within this population, characterize the bacterial isolates' antimicrobial resistance patterns, and compare those resistance patterns to previously reported resistance patterns.

ANIMAL STUDIED

Dogs diagnosed with bacterial keratitis between 2013 and 2019.

PROCEDURES

Data pertaining to breed; Schirmer tear test I results; use of cyclosporine, tacrolimus, or corticosteroids at time of ulcer diagnosis; bacterial genus or species isolated; and resistance to selected antimicrobials as measured by Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion were collected. Resistance patterns were compared to those reported by Tolar et al. (2006).

RESULTS

One hundred seventy bacterial isolates were cultured from 138 eyes from 130 dogs. Of these dogs, 45% were brachycephalic, 62% had STT <15 mm/min, and 28% were receiving a corticosteroid at the time of examination. The most common isolates were Staphylococcus pseudintermedius (31%), β-hemolytic Streptococcus spp. (28%), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (18%). Compared to the 1993-2003 study period, there were significant increases in resistance to cephalothin and polymyxin B among S. pseudintermedius isolates. β-hemolytic Streptococcus spp. and P. aeruginosa isolates had no significant changes in resistance to the tested antimicrobials.

CONCLUSION

Isolates of S. pseudintermedius, β-hemolytic Streptococcus spp., and P. aeruginosa had minimal changes in resistance between the two study periods. In this population, monotherapy with ciprofloxacin or combination therapy of tobramycin and a first-generation cephalosporin continue to be appropriate for use in cases of suspected bacterial keratitis while awaiting results of susceptibility testing.