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

ABSTRACT Purpose To describe the use of prophylactic systemic antibiotics (PSA) in veterinary ophthalmic surgeries. Methods A survey of veterinarians who perform ophthalmic surgeries was distributed internationally. Results Responses from 296 veterinary clinicians in 30 countries were evaluated. Over 50% use PSA in 10 of 16 procedures, with over 70% using PSA for enucleations, intraocular surgery, and autologous corneal grafts; and over 40% using PSA for eyelid mass removal, prolapsed third eyelid gland repair, blepharoplasties, and superficial keratectomies. PSA use was higher in North America (NA) than in Europe (EU) in 14 out of 16 procedures, with the difference being significant in ectopic cilia removal (11%EU vs. 31%NA, p = 0.001), prolapsed third eyelid gland repair (19%EU vs. 66%NA, p < 0.001), eyelid mass removal (24%EU vs. 56%NA, p < 0.001), entropion/ectropion surgery (43%EU vs. 74%NA, p < 0.001), superficial keratectomy (26%EU vs. 68%NA, p < 0.001), autologous graft non‐perforated surgery (56%EU vs. 85%NA, p < 0.001), glaucoma valve placement (81%EU vs. 96%NA, p = 0.014), and enucleation (64%EU vs. 87%NA, p < 0.001). Practitioners in referral practice (RP) had significantly higher PSA use than those in general practice (GP) for eyelid mass removal (12%GP vs. 31%RP, p = 0.026), medial canthoplasties (22%GP vs. 62%RP, p < 0.001), entropion/ectropion surgery (17%GP vs. 48%RP, p = 0.002) and rhytidectomies (46%GP vs. 87%RP, p = 0.005). Conclusion This survey demonstrated that a large proportion of veterinary practitioners use PSA in ophthalmic surgeries with geographical and environmental variations. Further studies to assess the incidence of surgical site infections in correlation with PSA administration are warranted, alongside the imperative for establishing comprehensive guidelines for PSA use in veterinary ophthalmic surgery.