The Use of Systemic Antibiotics for Prophylaxis in Veterinary Ophthalmic Surgery-A Practitioner Survey of Current Protocols.

PSA use in veterinary ophthalmic surgery varies geographically; standardized evidence-based guidelines needed.

This international survey examined prophylactic systemic antibiotic (PSA) use practices among 296 veterinary clinicians across 30 countries performing ophthalmic surgeries. Results revealed significant geographical and practice-type variations in PSA administration. Over 70% of respondents used PSA for high-risk procedures including enucleations, intraocular surgery, and autologous corneal grafts, while 40-50% utilized PSA for moderate-risk procedures such as eyelid mass removal and blepharoplasties. North American practitioners demonstrated significantly higher PSA usage rates compared to European counterparts across 14 of 16 procedures, with the most substantial differences observed in prolapsed third eyelid gland repair (66% vs. 19%), entropion/ectropion surgery (74% vs. 43%), and superficial keratectomy (68% vs. 26%). Referral practice veterinarians employed PSA more frequently than general practitioners for specific procedures including eyelid mass removal and entropion/ectropion surgery. The findings underscore the lack of standardized, evidence-based guidelines for PSA use in veterinary ophthalmic surgery, highlighting the need for comprehensive research correlating surgical site infection incidence with antibiotic prophylaxis protocols.

This summary was distilled by AI and may occasionally misinterpret data. Confirm critical details with the primary literature before clinical application.