Urinary infection in dogs with chronic kidney disease: aetiology and resistance

Infections of the genitourinary system are among the most frequent in the clinical routine of small animals. Treatment with the most appropriate antimicrobial therapy, according to the uropathogen susceptibility test, can avoid the spread of bacterial resistance to antimicrobials. A clinical study was performed in 32 canines, of both sexes and differing ages, who attended the Veterinary Teaching Hospital. Urine samples underwent culture, with the objective of evaluating urinary tract infection in dogs with renal disease, identifying the associated bacterial pathogens, and verifying their antimicrobial susceptibility in vitro. Urine culture was positive in 10 dogs, mostly males, with no predisposition for breed, and a mean age of 8.28 years. Most of the urinary tract infections (UTIs) were monobacterial, with the most common microorganisms being Pseudomonas sp. and Staphylococcus sp. The antimicrobials imipenem and meropenem had the best overall sensitivity profile, and ampicillin showed the highest resistance. The variation in epidemiological profiles, and susceptibility to uropathogens, reinforces the importance of the veterinarian in the prevention and control of infection, in addition to the need for further research to identify new antimicrobial agents.