On Gram-Positive- and Gram-Negative-Bacteria-Associated Canine and Feline Skin Infections: A 4-Year Retrospective Study of the University Veterinary Microbiology Diagnostic Laboratory of Naples, Italy

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Pet animals’ bacterial skin infections represent the main reason for presentation in small animal practice and are generally secondary complications of other pathological conditions.

Pyoderma and otitis externa are generally caused by Staphylococcus spp., and particularly Staphylococcus pseudintermedius is often isolated from dogs and cats suffering from skin disorders.

However, also Gram-negative bacteria, such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli, can be responsible for both otitis externa and pyoderma.

Since multi-drug-resistant bacterial strains have become a relevant threat in veterinary medicine, this study aimed to identify the bacteria most frequently associated with the most common clinical cases of skin infections in dogs and cats attending the University Veterinary Teaching Hospital of Naples in the period from January 2016 to December 2019.

Moreover, their antibiotic resistance profiles were evaluated, highlighting an increasing spread of multi-drug-resistant strains.

It is worth noting that this spread may also concern humans because of their close contact with pets.

Thus, it not only is of veterinary significance but also has zoonotic importance, with pets acting as reservoirs for humans, especially pet owners and veterinarians.

ABSTRACT: A 4-year retrospective study (2016–2019) of selected routine bacteriological examinations of the veterinary microbiology laboratory of the University Veterinary Teaching Hospital of Naples (Italy) was carried out.

A total of 189 bacteriological samples were collected from 171 dogs and 18 cats suffering from skin infections.

In dogs, the most common cutaneous infection was otitis externa, while pyoderma was found to be prevalent in cats.

The number of recorded Gram-positive strains over the study period did not vary considerably from year to year and was always significantly higher (p-value = 0.0007) in comparison with Gram-negative bacterial isolations.

In dogs, Staphylococcus pseudintermedius was the most common identified Gram-positive bacterium (65%), while Pseudomonas aeruginosa (36%) was the one among the isolated Gram-negative bacteria.

In cats, coagulase-negative staphylococci were the most predominant isolated bacteria (47%).

The phenotypic profiles of antibiotic resistance showed that most of the strains were resistant to amoxicillin–clavulanate, penicillin, clindamycin, and trimethoprim–sulfamethoxazole.

Several multi-drug-resistant strains (35%) were detected in canine isolates.

An updating of antibiotic resistance profiles of the main Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria principally associated with skin infections of pet animals is necessary to improve stewardship programs of veterinary hospitals and clinics.