الكاتب: Multiple References

Treatment of a bacterial infection in a secluded site, like an abscess, may sometimes be straightforward. Usually drainage of the abscess, if required supported with systemic administration of antibiotics, generally quickly resolves the problem. However, despite the development of new treatments and more potent antimicrobial agents, local bacterial infections in some secluded sites, especially joints and tendon sheaths, continue to be a serious clinical problem in horses. After bacterial colonization of a joint or tendon sheath there is an influx of neutrophils and an accumulation of fibrin and inflammatory exudate. Proteolytic enzymes and other inflammatory mediators may cause damage to the articular cartilage and synovial membrane and may subsequently lead to degenerative joint disease and chronic lameness (Tulamo et al., 1989; Schneider et al., 1992a,b). A wide range of bacteria can be found in infected synovial structures. One of the regularly encountered pathogens is S. aureus, which belongs to the normal skin flora of both horses and humans (Meijer et al., 2000).