RECENT STUDY ON THE OTIC MICROBIOTA AND SUSCEPTIBILITY PROFILE TO ANTIMICROBIALS USED IN THE TREATMENT OF OTITIS IN PET CARNIVORES

In veterinary practice, otitis is the most commonly encountered condition in pet carnivores. Contributing factors and polyfactorial etiopathogenesis frequently lead to therapeutic failure in medical interventions. Using a limited range of topical medicinal products intended for these conditions inevitably results in resistance to these active substances. Our study, conducted on otic exudates (n=100) collected from dogs and cats, highlighted the complex polymicrobial etiology and the decrease in sensitivity to otic antimicrobials, culminating in the establishment of the multidrug resistance phenomenon. In vitro testing of the isolated bacterial strains across a broad spectrum of antimicrobials provided valid alternatives that prevented relapse. The obtained results are useful for practicing veterinarians and highlight the need for continued research to develop new therapeutic options for a favorable prognosis.