Superbugs threaten vision in animals – and can jump to humans, Israeli researchers warn

Illustrative: Veterinary hospital in Israel. (Courtesy) He said that in 10 years, “it will become much more challenging to treat even common eye infections and there will be a greater chance of blindness in both humans and animals.” The research, which appeared in Veterinary Ophthalmology, calls for more targeted antibiotic use, stronger infection control measures, and increased awareness. “We need to switch the way we think about antibiotics,” Sebbag said. Oren Pe’er, Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel. (Courtesy) Overuse of antibiotics The study examines bacterial keratitis, a serious infection of the cornea, which is among the most urgent emergencies in veterinary eye care. Without prompt and appropriate treatment, bacterial keratitis can rapidly progress, leading to permanent vision loss or even loss of the eye. The researchers found mounting evidence that many of the bacteria responsible for these infections are becoming increasingly resistant to commonly used antibiotics. “Like with humans, antibiotics have been over-prescribed in animals, and this is creating the multi-resistant bacteria,” Sebbag said. “Maybe the right antibiotic isn’t selected, or we don’t use it often enough, or not long enough. Antibiotics are misused in animals the same way that they’re misused among people.” In a longitudinal study published in 2020, Sebbag and colleagues found that multidrug resistance among ocular bacterial isolates increased from approximately five percent to more than 30% within five years. “That trend may continue to rise,” he said, “and this is very concerning.” Eye infections Primary care veterinarians are usually the first to see most animals with eye problems, Sebbag said. While these doctors manage a wide range of medical conditions, they are not eye specialists. For example, dogs are very prone to allergies, whether environmental or food-related. “Many cases of red, goopy eyes in dogs are actually caused -bacterial conditions,” Sebbag said. The owner takes the pet to the veterinarian, who may incorrectly guess there is a bacterial infection and prescribe antibiotics. Horses, which are “quite popular in Israel, whether as pets or used for sports or competitions, also get nasty eye infections,” Sebbag said. “Owners should understand that not every red eye requires antibiotics, and appropriate diagnosis is essential before treatment is started.” He stressed that antimicrobial stewardship does not mean avoiding antibiotics. “It means using the right antibiotic only when it is truly needed, at the right dose, for the right duration,” Sebbag said. Veterinarians examine a horse after its surgery at the Hebrew University’s Koret School of Veterinary Medicine in Rishon Lezion, Israel, on Saturday, Nov. 28, 2015. (AP Photo/Oded Balilty) Another important way to reduce the spread of these resistant bacteria is through better cleaning and infection-control protocols in veterinary clinics, he said. “We use a lot of instruments to examine animals,” Sebbag said. “We examine one animal, then touch instruments, tables, and other surfaces.