Possible association of short‐term complications and antimicrobial use in standing equine cheek tooth extractions 2018–2022

Title (eng)
Possible association of short‐term complications and antimicrobial use in standing equine cheek tooth extractions 2018–2022
Author
Marlies Schnierer
Author
Matthias Jehle
Equine Clinic Gessertshausen Gessertshausen Germany
Author
Nora Biermann
Author
Omid Nekouei
Author
Lisa Christina Huber
Abstract (eng)
Background Despite growing concerns about antimicrobial resistance, prophylactic antimicrobials continue to be routinely administered in many procedures, including dental extractions. Further evidence-based research is needed on whether their use influences post-operative complication rates. Objectives To identify risk factors for short-term complications, associations between complications and antimicrobial use as well as factors leading to antimicrobial use in equine (standing) cheek tooth extractions. Study Design Retrospective analysis of clinical records. Methods Data were extracted from records of horses undergoing cheek tooth extractions (2018–2022). Multi-variable logistic regression models examined associations between clinical variables and the occurrence of complications and antimicrobial use. Results Three hundred and five cases undergoing 447 dental extractions were included. Of these, 197 cases (64.6%) received antimicrobials. Complications occurred in 56 cases (18.4%); these were considered mild and transient in 39 cases (12.7%) and severe, requiring veterinary treatment, in 18 cases (5.6%). Occurrence of complications demonstrated an association with increased antimicrobial use (OR 2.69; CI 1.20–6.04; p = 0.02), presence of concurrent diseases (OR 4.32, CI 1.89–9.84; p = 0.001), extraction of mandibular teeth compared to maxillary teeth (OR 2.20; CI 1.14–4.23; p = 0.018), warmer seasons (OR 1.97; CI 1.03–3.76; p = 0.04) and the reason for extraction being either dental infection (OR 6.37; CI 2.39–16.97; p < 0.001) or dental fracture (OR 3.90; CI 1.53–9.91; p = 0.004) versus periodontal diseases. Antimicrobials were more frequently used when more than 2 teeth were extracted (OR 5.96; CI 2.26–15.70; p < 0.001), when dental infection was the reason for extraction (OR 3.75; CI 1.76–8.02; p = 0.001) or when the extraction was performed in warmer seasons (OR 1.96; CI 1.17–3.29; p = 0.01). Conclusions Complication rates were comparable to previous studies and in large numbers of horses antimicrobials were not administered, which did not result in higher complication rates. Antimicrobials might be justified in horses suffering from concurrent diseases.
Remark (eng)
Online Version of Record before inclusion in an issue
Keywords (eng)
AntibioticsAntimicrobial StewardshipConcurrent DiseasesDentistryHorseOral Surgery
Type (eng)
journal article
Language
[eng]
Persistent identifier
https://phaidra.vetmeduni.ac.at/o:4770
DOI
10.1111/evj.14563
Is in series
Title (eng)
Equine Veterinary Journal
ISSN
0425-1644
Issued
2025
Number of pages
9
Publication
Wiley
Version type (eng)
version of record (published version)
Date issued
2025
Access rights (eng)
open access
License
CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International
Rights statement (eng)
© 2025 The Author(s)