Scope and Method of Study. Antimicrobial resistance is a topic of pervasive importance in both human and veterinary medicine. Increasingly, the zoonotic transfer of pathogens such as multi-drug resistance strains of Salmonella, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus species is reported. The first step in responsible and effective use of antimicrobials in veterinary practice is to gain knowledge of the institutional and regional microbiologic environment. To this end, a large scale retrospective analysis was undertaken of all isolates from equine specimens submitted to the Oklahoma Animal Disease and Diagnostic Laboratory (OADDL) by the Boren Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, the College of Veterinary Health Sciences Ranch, and the regional veterinary community. Analysis was performed on pathogens identified, susceptibility phenotypes, and overall susceptibility patterns.

Findings and Conclusions. The nature of bacterial isolates from equine specimens submitted to OADDL is similar to reported literature. Outbreaks of mutli-drug resistant pathogens, particularly Staphylococcus aureus, have occurred at the BVMTH. These findings are supportive of real-time surveillance of major equine pathogens.