Alvaro Salmoral¹, Gustavo Ortiz-Diez², Manuel Fuertes-Recuero², Carlos Macias¹

¹Anicura Bahia de Malaga Referral Service, Malaga, Spain. ²Hospital Clínico Veterinario Complutense, Madrid, Spain

Objectives

To estimate 30-day surgical site infection (SSI) incidence in dogs in a prospective European multicenter cohort, assess the association between perioperative temperature change and SSI, and describe antimicrobial use and stewardship metrics per European frameworks.

Methods

Dogs undergoing 379 surgical procedures from 12 centres in 7 countries underwent surveillance at ~7 and 15–30 days. SSI within 30 days was classified using the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention criteria. ΔT was calculated as extubation minus baseline temperature. Univariable and prespecified multivariable logistic regression were performed; sensitivity analyses included random-intercept mixed-effects logistic regression to account for centre clustering, and Firth penalised logistic regression. Antimicrobial exposure and stewardship metrics included compliance with the European Network for Optimisation of Veterinary Antimicrobial Therapy (ENOVAT) recommendations in clean/clean-contaminated procedures, implant-specific prophylaxis compliance, and European Medicines Agency Antimicrobial Advice ad-hocExpert Group (AMEG) category B (“Restrict”) use.

Results

SSI occurred in 23/379 procedures; 22/23 were detected at the 7-day assessment. Median ΔT was −0.8°C overall and was more negative with SSI than without SSI. Each +1°C increase in ΔT was associated with lower odds of SSI in the multivariable model; estimates were similar in mixed-effects and Firth analyses. Perioperative systemic antimicrobials were administered in 204/379 procedures; AMEG category B agents were used in 10/204. ENOVAT compliance among clean/clean-contaminated procedures was 200/349.

Statement: Impact/ Clinical Significance

Greater perioperative heat loss was consistently associated with SSI. Antimicrobial use was common, with moderate ENOVAT compliance, low implant-specific compliance, and rare AMEG category B use. Minimising perioperative loss-temperature is a practical, modifiable strategy to reduce SSI risk alongside antimicrobial stewardship.