10.6 Disease- and pathogenspecific guidelines
A system-based approach to antimicrobial therapy is
outlined in the following paragraphs. The guidelines
provided in this section strike a balance between prudent
antibiotic use and recommendations from thescientific literature. However, the equine literature is
not always based on objective scientific studies. Clinical
reports, antimicrobial susceptibility data and clinical
experience are often used to formulate published
recommendations because of the relative paucity of
scientific data. As such, the scientific literature tends
to be dominated by recommendations that promote
the use of broad-spectrum drugs and antimicrobial
combinations, especially penicillin with gentamicin.
There is a need for more research to rationalize the
use of antimicrobials in equine medicine.