antimicrobial susceptibility

A study was conducted to isolate bacteria from septicemic cases in equine species and conduct antimicrobial susceptibility from December 2005 to June 2006 in Debre Zeit and Nazareth areas, Ethiopia. Bacteria were isolated in 20% of the suspected septicemic cases. Seventy percent of the isolates were gram-negative and the rest gram-positive. All bacteria were isolated in pure culture. Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Klebsiella pneumoniae were isolated with isolation rates of 45%, 30%, and 25%, respectively. In this study, it was found that most bacteria are susceptible to limited antimicrobials. The most effective drugs were polymyxin B (90.0%) followed by gentamicin (85.0%), chloramphenicol (80.0%), and kanamycin (80.0%). Neither of the isolates was susceptible to tetracycline. Statistically significant association was not observed between host risk factors (age, sex, species, and body temperature) with frequency of each bacterial isolate (P > 0.05). The present study is limited in duration and sample size, therefore, further investigation should be carried out to elucidate septicemia in equines adequately in the country. In addition, rational use of antimicrobial therapy should be encouraged to minimize the risk of antimicrobial resistance.