Environmental Occurrence of Potentially Pathogenic Bacteria in the Equine Anesthetic Induction and Recovery Box: A Single-Center Study

TL;DR

This study found that potentially harmful bacteria are commonly present in horse recovery stalls after anesthesia, suggesting these areas should be included in infection control efforts.

Contribution

The study is the first to characterize bacterial contamination in equine anesthetic recovery stalls and its spatial and temporal patterns.

Findings

Bacterial contamination was consistently detected in recovery stalls, especially after horses recovered from anesthesia.

Moisture-prone areas like floor grooves showed the highest bacterial presence.

Opportunistic environmental bacteria were identified, but no direct link to surgical site infections was found.

Abstract

Surgical site infections (SSI) are recognized complications in horses undergoing surgery and are influenced by several factors. While most research has focused on the operating theater and the surgical wound itself, less attention has been given to the environment in which horses recover from general anesthesia. This study examines bacterial contamination in the anesthetic induction and recovery stall of an equine surgical facility. Samples were collected from different areas of the stall at various times: before surgery, after recovery from anesthesia, and after cleaning. Bacteria were consistently present in the recovery environment, particularly after the horse had recovered from anesthesia, and were most frequently detected in specific areas of the stall. The bacteria identified were mainly environmental species that can act as opportunistic pathogens. These findings suggest that the recovery stall should be considered as part of infection control strategies in equine hospitals. Understanding when and where bacteria persist in the recovery environment may help improve hygiene practices and reduce the overall risk of infection in horses undergoing surgery.

In horses, surgical site infections (SSIs) are multifactorial complications influenced by patient-related, procedural, and environmental factors. While perioperative contamination has been extensively studied in the operating theater, the anesthetic induction and recovery environment has received limited attention. The aim of this study was to characterize bacterial contamination within an equine anesthetic induction and recovery stall and to evaluate its spatial and temporal distribution. Environmental samples were collected from four predefined locations within the stall at three time points: before patient admission, after recovery from general anesthesia, and after routine cleaning and disinfection. Samples were analyzed using standard aerobic culture techniques, and bacterial species were identified. Bacterial contamination was detected at all sampling locations and time points. Contamination increased significantly after recovery from general anesthesia and was most pronounced in areas associated with moisture retention, such as the groove between floor tiles. The bacterial species identified were predominantly opportunistic environmental organisms. No direct association between environmental contamination and surgical site infections could be established. However, the constant presence of potentially pathogenic bacteria indicates that the anesthetic induction and recovery stall represents a relevant component of the perioperative environment. These findings support the inclusion of the recovery area in infection control strategies aimed at reducing perioperative risk in equine surgical patients.

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