Overview of the use of antimicrobials for the treatment of bacterial infections in horses

Summary Use of antimicrobial drugs is central to the treatment of primary and secondary bacterial infection in horses. When selecting an antimicrobial to treat confirmed or suspected bacterial infection multiple factors should be considered, including: the likely infectious agent; distribution and dosage of selected drugs; mechanisms of action; and potential side effects. Many of these issues will be covered in subsequent articles in this series. The aim of this paper is to aid the clinician in the rational selection of antimicrobials by reviewing the mode of action, spectrum of activity, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, indications and potential side effects of the main classes of antimicrobial drugs. Extralabel use of drugs is common in veterinary medicine due to a lack of licensed products. This increases the importance of a thorough understanding of antimicrobials and their possible adverse effects.