Concurrent use of corticosteroids and antimicrobial drugs in the treatment of infectious diseases in large animals.

A selection of the potential risks and benefits to be gained from the concurrent use of anti-inflammatory corticosteroids and antimicrobial agents in the treatment of infectious disease processes in large animals is reviewed. Although this form of combination therapy appears to be rational, there is cause for serious concern. Precautions and guidelines are presented for the therapeutic management of those cases in which the use of corticosteroids in conjunction with antibacterial agents is unavoidable.