Bacterial infections in animals
Bacterial infections can be a serious health problem for your pet. Some can even be fatal if not treated on time.
Afortunadamente, algunas infecciones bacterianas en animales pueden tratarse fácilmente con antibióticos. Pero otros pueden poner en peligro la vida si no se tratan. Estos incluyen brucelosis, bacteriemia y sepsis.
Brucellosis
Brucellosis is an infectious disease caused by bacteria of the genus Brucella. An infection is zoonotic, which means that sometimes it can be transmitted from animals to humans. It is most commonly found in wild animals, such as elk and bison, but it can also occur in domestic animals such as cows, pigs, sheep, and goats.
The symptoms of brucellosis may appear suddenly, with fever, chills and a headache, or may develop over weeks or months. Some symptoms are very severe, such as inflammation of the heart valves (endocarditis). Other signs are not so serious.
The infection of humans with brucellosis occurs when people breathe in the bacteria or play the tissues, blood or contaminated fluids of an animal infected with the bacteria. It is rare for a person to contract the disease through contact with animals that do not have the infection.
That is why it is important to avoid contact with infected animals, especially if you live in a region that has high rates of brucellosis. You can also prevent the spread of brucellosis to the not to eat or drink unpasteurized milk or cheese. You can also reduce your risk by not travel to countries where brucellosis is the most common.
The bacteria brucellosis can live in human cells and can enter the body through wounds in the skin or mucous membranes, or through the respiratory tract. Then you can travel in the bloodstream to other organs.
The majority of people who contract brucellosis will be retrieved without any problem. However, some people develop chronic brucellosis, which can cause symptoms and complications durable.
Some of the most serious complications include endocarditis, and inflammation of the joints. These can be difficult to treat and can cause permanent damage.
Other symptoms include headache, muscle pain, weakness, and weight loss. Depending on the organs affected, can last for days, weeks or months.
The treatment for brucellosis includes antimicrobials, such as antibiotics, or other medications that can help control the symptoms and prevent the development of a more severe infection. The goal is to relieve symptoms and control the infection as quickly as possible to prevent relapses and complications.
bacteremia
Bacteremia is a type of infection caused by bacteria in the bloodstream. If the bacteria spread to other parts of the body, it can cause serious problems. These infections can also cause sepsis.
Infections in the bloodstream can be difficult to diagnose, so your veterinarian will take blood samples from the animal and sent to a laboratory for cultures. These crops will try to grow the bacteria so that they can be identified and treated. Can take several days to do this, so it is important that you inform your veterinarian as soon as possible if you think your pet has a bacterial infection.
Your veterinarian will also observe the organs and tissues of the animal to see if there are any signs of infection or inflammation. Your veterinarian will give your pet antibiotics to help kill the bacteria and prevent it from spreading to other parts of the body.
Some common causes of bacteremia include: Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, Pseudomonas, Haemophilus, E. coli, dental procedures, herpes, urinary tract infections, peritonitis, colitis by Clostridium difficile and use of intravenous drugs.
The signs of bacteremia include: tachypnea, chills, fever, altered sensorium, hypotension and gastrointestinal symptoms (abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea). If you notice any of these symptoms in your pet, report it to your veterinarian immediately.
The diagnosis of bacteraemia was done by a number of blood tests, and culture results. The veterinarian will send the samples to a laboratory for testing and then decide what to do next.
The treatment of bacteremia is very important, as it can rapidly progress to sepsis. Your pet will receive antibiotics intravenously and a Ringer solution to help with dehydration due to fluid loss through vomiting and diarrhea. To stay in the hospital until they are well and may need a feeding tube until they can go back to eating by themselves.
During the pandemic, the incidence of bacteremia home and community hospital due to S. pyogenes, S. pneumoniae, H. influenzae, MSSA and MRSA have not decreased. This was despite an increase in the compliance of hygiene measures, such as hand hygiene and social distancing.
Septicemia
In most cases, sepsis is caused by bacterial infections, but it can also be triggered by non-infectious causes, such as trauma and burns. The body releases mediators, immune (chemical compounds or protein) to combat this type of injury and infection, but if it is not controlled by the immune response, inflammation spreads, the blood vessels become clogged and the organs are damaged.
In the early stages of sepsis, doctors usually treat it with antibiotics. They may also administer medications to improve blood pressure and help fight inflammation. Then, you may need to use other types of drugs to control the disease and prevent the development of more serious complications.
The diagnosis is based on signs and symptoms, blood tests and other physical findings. The doctor will see the patient's temperature, heart rate, and respiratory, the white blood cell count and the state of your skin. They can also analyze the urine of a person or other secretions from the wound to help diagnose the source of the infection.
The symptoms of sepsis are similar to those of other diseases and conditions, but may differ depending on the cause of the infection and the age of the person. For example, a very young baby, who has not yet developed a strong immune system, you can get sepsis if not treated quickly.
A person who has recently been hospitalized for an illness or surgery have a higher risk of developing sepsis, especially if your immune system is weak. It is possible that you need to stay hospitalized for a long time and they need to receive fluids, medicine to control the temperature and other care.
People who have cancer or HIV, people who take immunosuppressive drugs and the very elderly or very young people also have an increased risk of sepsis. These patients may be more difficult to diagnose and treat because the symptoms of sepsis are very similar to those of other diseases.
Some people who have sepsis can be treated successfully with antibiotics, but in many cases, you can't fight the bacteria. This is known as antibiotic resistance. In addition, some germs are resistant to other types of antibiotics, so that the doctors must find a different way to fight the infection. In these cases, the bacteria are more difficult to kill, and the treatment can be life-threatening.
Septic Shock
Septic shock is a life-threatening condition that can occur after a severe bacterial infection. It involves serious problems with the heart, lungs, and kidneys. This is a medical emergency that requires treatment in the intensive care unit of the hospital.
People who have septic shock often require surgery to repair damaged organs. Also need treatment with medications and antibiotics to raise blood pressure and fight infection.
The symptoms of septic shock include low blood pressure, reduced levels of oxygen in the blood, a low amount of red blood cells and platelets (blood cells that help transport nutrients to the body), an excess of lactic acid and a high amount of waste products from metabolic. . The heart rate of a person can also be irregular. The fever is also an early sign of sepsis.
The symptoms usually appear within 24 hours post-infection, although it may be more prolonged. Your doctor will do a physical exam to check your vital signs, such as respiration and blood pressure. Your doctor also will try to find out the cause of your illness.
If your doctor finds an infection, you will be taken to a laboratory to obtain samples of blood for analysis. These samples will be analyzed for the presence of bacteria.
A blood culture positive is a common way to identify the bacteria that caused your illness. If you do not have a positive blood culture, your doctor will try other tests to find out what is wrong.
The tests may include a swab of the throat, a urine test and an electrocardiogram (ECG). It is also possible that you do x-rays to see inside your chest.
Your doctor also will try to determine what caused your infection and how severe it is. If the tests indicate that you have a bacterial infection, your doctor will treat you right away with antibiotics.
El shock séptico puede ser una condición peligrosa, pero a menudo es fácil de tratar. La recuperación depende del tipo de infección que la causó, qué tan grave es el daño a los órganos y sus otras condiciones de salud. Las personas más jóvenes que tienen un sistema inmunológico saludable tienen más probabilidades de recuperarse de un shock séptico que los adultos mayores con muchos problemas de salud.
