Rational Selection of Antimicrobials for Use in Horses

Abstract

Antibiotics frequently play an important central or adjunctive role in the therapeutic management of horses and foals with a variety of illnesses, including those requiring critical care, because diseases caused by primary or secondary bacterial infection are commonly encountered and may contribute to failure of single or multiple organs. However, it should be understood that supportive therapy usually plays a role at least as important as antimicrobials in promoting a positive outcome, and that the adverse effects of antimicrobial drugs individually or in combination may actually lead to negative consequences. Antibiotic use should be based on sound rational principles involving thorough patient evaluation, good clinical judgment, overall medical knowledge, information regarding the individual patient and the infecting agent(s), selection of an appropriate drug, and formulation of a dosage regimen appropriate to the patient and its caretaker after assessment of the potential benefits and risks of that