Citation

Meade E, Slattery MA, Garvey M (2019) Zoonotic Antimicrobial Resistance as a Result of Iatrogenic Disease in Companion Animals - Case Study Reports. J Infect Dis Epidemiol 5:073. doi.org/10.23937/2474-3658/1510073

Copyright

© 2019 Meade E, et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

CASE REPORT | OPEN ACCESS DOI: 10.23937/2474-3658/1510073

Zoonotic Antimicrobial Resistance as a Result of Iatrogenic Disease in Companion Animals - Case Study Reports

Elaine Meade1, Mark Anthony Slattery2 and Mary Garvey1,2*

1Department of Life Science, Institute of Technology Sligo, Ash Lane, Sligo, Ireland

2Mark Anthony Slattery, Veterinary Practice, Manorhamilton, Leitrim, Ireland

Abstract

Iatrogenic disease represents an ongoing issue for veterinarians where animals manifest with secondary conditions as a result of medical treatment. Similarly, zoonotic disease and specifically resistant zoonotic pathogens represent an ongoing issue for public health safety. As an increasing number of zoonotic microbial species are being recognised as emerging and re-emerging diseases in humans, the issues relating to their antimicrobial resistance becomes more evident. This study reports on two cases of iatrogenic invasive microbial disease in companion animals following previous treatment for dermal conditions. Species identified included Candida krusei, E. coli, MRSA and E. hirae. Furthermore, isolated species both fungal and bacterial were also shown to display antimicrobial resistance. Antifungal resistance in Candida species is an emerging problem particularly as infection with this species has a high mortality rate in immunocompromised persons. Typically, cutaneous infections in companion animals are treated with broad spectrum beta lactamase antibiotics often accompanied with glucocorticoid steroids. This study suggests that more specific diagnostic measures need to be taken to identify the causative agents of infection, to optimise disease treatment and potentially lower the emergence of resistant species.