Selected Antimicrobial Information – Equine
Chloramphenicol [Equine]
Restriction Status
Unrestricted
Dose
| Species | Usage | Dose |
|---|---|---|
| Horses |
For susceptible infections |
|
| For foals | 20-40mg/kg PO or IV q-64h |
Brand Name(s)
Chloromycetin®
Background
Chloramphenicol is a bacteriostatic, time-dependent acetamide antibiotic with a very broad spectrum of activity, including Gram-positive and Gram-negative aerobes, and anaerobes. Plasmid-mediated resistance to chloramphenicol develops in Gram-negative bacteria over time. Chloramphenicol is widely distributed throughout the body, crosses the blood-brain barrier, and penetrates necrotic tissues and abscesses. Elimination is through hepatic metabolism, and inactive metabolites are excreted in urine.
Acceptable Uses
- Treatment of conditions in which broad-spectrum coverage is required (e.g. pneumonia, peritonitis, internal abscesses, cellulitis). Culture and susceptibility are indicated prior to initiating therapy.
- Treatment of central nervous system infections (e.g. meningitis or cerebral abscesses).
- Treatment of proliferative enteropathy in foals caused by Lawsonia intracellularis.
Unacceptable Uses
- Mycobacterium spp. are intrinsically resistant.
Formulations Available within the OSU Pharmacy
- Chloramphenicol 1g tablet
- Chloramphenicol 250mg tablet
Notes
- Idiosyncratic, irreversible aplastic anemia is a rare complication of human exposure to chloramphenicol, which can lead to death. Gloves should always be worn when handling chloramphenicol.
- Chloramphenicol can decrease the clearance of other hepatically-metabolized drugs (e.g. barbiturates, xylazine).
