Survey of antimicrobial susceptibility of bacterial pathogens isolated from dogs and cats with respiratory tract infections in Europe: ComPath results

AIMS: To present antimicrobial susceptibilities for bacteria from dogs and cats with respiratory tract infection (RTI) across Europe in 2013–2014 and compare with data from 2008–2010. METHODS AND RESULTS: Minimal inhibitory concentrations were determined for 464 isolates following Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute standards using antibiotics approved for RTI treatment. Where possible, susceptibility was calculated using predominantly human‐derived breakpoints whilst some antibiotics had no breakpoints. The main pathogen from dogs was Staphylococcus pseudintermedius which was > 90% susceptible to fluoroquinolones and oxacillin (92·5%; six isolates confirmed mecA‐positive) and 53·8, 80·0 and 88·8% susceptible to tetracycline, penicillin and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole. Streptococci, Escherichia coli, Bordetella bronchiseptica, Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were also present in dog RTI. Streptococci were fully susceptible to penicillin, ampicillin and pradofloxacin. None were enrofloxacin‐resistant but 31·4% had intermediate susceptibility. The least active agent against streptococci was tetracycline (51·4% susceptible). For E. coli, 90·9% were amoxicillin/clavulanic acid‐susceptible; susceptibility to other compounds ranged from 63·6 to 81·8%. There are no breakpoints for B. bronchiseptica and Ps. aeruginosa. For Staph. aureus, penicillin susceptibility was low (34·8%); for other compounds 87·0–100%. The main RTI pathogen from cats was Pasteurella multocida, where only pradofloxacin has breakpoints (100% susceptible). Susceptibility of coagulase‐negative staphylococci ranged from 66·7% (penicillin) to 97·2% (pradofloxacin). Streptococci from cats were 100% susceptible to all antibiotics except enrofloxacin and tetracycline (both 65·2% susceptible). CONCLUSIONS: Overall, antimicrobial resistance was low to medium in RTI in dogs and cats, although susceptibility varied widely among pathogens studied. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Responsible use of antibiotics is crucial to maintain susceptibility and continued resistance monitoring is important to support this goal. These findings support the need for the setting of RTI‐specific breakpoints for pathogens of dogs and cats.