Background: Intraperitoneal administration of ceftriaxone maintains therapeutic abdominal concentrations for 24 hours in healthy horses. Therefore, it is a possible treatment for septic peritonitis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of ceftriaxone as an adjuvant treatment in horses with septic peritonitis.
Methods: Twenty-six horses with clinical signs, sonography and/or laboratory findings of septic peritonitis were included. Peritoneal fluid was collected for microbiological culture and in vitro microbial sensitivity profile assessment. Daily intraperitoneal administration of ceftriaxone (25 mg/kg) was initiated with supportive and systemic antimicrobial treatment. The animals were divided into three groups: group 1-gastrointestinal tract injuries and abdominal surgery (excluding perforations/ruptures); group 2-not related to changes in the gastrointestinal tract; group 3-secondary to intestinal rupture and/or faeces contamination.
Results: The mean success rate of the treatment was 77 per cent (20/26 animals), with success rates of 84.6 per cent in group 1; 87.5 per cent, group 2; and 40 per cent, group 3.
Conclusions: This is the first study to report adjuvant intraperitoneal treatment ceftriaxone for septic peritonitis in horses and indicates that this treatment can successfully treat septic peritonitis in horses.
Keywords: antimicrobials; cephalosporins; horses; peritoneum.
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