Sepsis and survival in critically ill calves: risk factors and antimicrobial use
Sepsis is a life-threatening disease for which critically important antimicrobials are frequently used. Diagnostic and therapeutic guidelines for sepsis and critically ill calves are largely lacking.
The aim of the study was to identify factors associated with mortality in critically ill calves and describe bacteria obtained from blood cultures of critically ill calves with sepsis and their antimicrobial resistance.
Logistic regression, survival analysis, and decision tree analysis were used to determine factors associated with mortality.
Researchers enrolled 230 critically ill calves, mainly Belgian Blue beef cattle, in this retrospective cohort study. Of the critically ill calves, 34.3% had sepsis and 61.3% died.
The final survival model indicated that calves with sepsis, abnormal behavior and hypothermia had a significantly higher mortality risk. In a second survival model, hypothermia and hypoglycemia were risk factors for mortality.
Decision tree analysis emphasized the importance of behavior, hypochloremia, hypoglycemia, hyperkalemia, and lung ultrasonography for mortality risk. Escherichia coli (30.6%) was most frequently isolated from blood cultures, of which 90.9% were multidrug resistant. Inappropriate use of antimicrobials was frequent for penicillin, amoxicillin, and sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim, but less for critically important antimicrobials.
The researchers concluded that many critically ill calves have sepsis, which increases mortality risk. Bacteria involved are often resistant to first-intention antimicrobials but less resistant to critically important antimicrobials.
The other identified risk factors for mortality can support therapeutic decision-making.
Mathilde L Pas, et al. “Sepsis and survival in critically ill calves: Risk factors and antimicrobial use.” J Vet Intern Med. 2022 Dec 23. doi: 10.1111/jvim.16607.
Comments
Related Articles
More news
Copyright © 2026 - All Rights Reserved
ISSN 2768-198X
List
Add
Please enter a comment