Perioperative administration of antimicrobials associated with elective surgery for cranial cruciate ligament rupture in dogs: 83 cases (2003-2005).

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate perioperative antimicrobial use associated with elective surgery for cranial cruciate ligament rupture in dogs.
DESIGN: Retrospective case series. ANIMALS: 83 dogs. PROCEDURES: Medical records were reviewed and antimicrobial use practices were evaluated for dogs with no other problems that would affect antimicrobial use decisions.
RESULTS: Antimicrobials were administered before or during surgery to 75 of 83 (90%) dogs. Timing of administration with respect to first incision, intraoperative administration, and duration of administration were variable. Antimicrobial administration began after surgery in 3 (3.6%) dogs. Fifty-five of 65 (85%) dogs treated before surgery received the first dose within 60 minutes of the first incision. Time from first antimicrobial administration to closure of the incision ranged from 15 to 285 minutes (mean +/- SD, 141 +/- 53 minutes). If a guideline of repeated administration every 2 hours after first administration until closure of the surgical site was used, 22 of 43 (51%) dogs received the required intraoperative dose, whereas 6 of 32 (19%) dogs that did not require intraoperative treatment were treated. Twenty-four (29%) dogs received antimicrobials after surgery. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Certain discrepancies between antimicrobial use practices in this study and standard guidelines used in human medicine were evident.