Disease Management Strategies

Question 1

What are some disease management considerations?

Answer 1

• Control of disease within population
• Human and animal safety
• Prognosis (will the animal return to production status; financials matter)
• Animal welfare (What is the welfare cost?)

Question 2

What are the different types of treatment for disease management?

Answer 2

• Curative
• Palliative/ supportive/ symptomatic
• Medical
• Surgical
• Euthanasia
  NOTE: Not all treatments are the same, and timely physical exams and other diagnostic procedures are key to providing appropriate and prompt treatment

Question 3

Curative Treatment

Answer 3

• Treating an animal with the intent to cure it
• Addressing the primary cause of disease

Question 4

Palliative/Supportive/Symptomatic treatment

Answer 4

• Preserves well-being when curative treatment is not pursued
• Address symptoms without addressing primary causes
• Goal is to decrease animal’s discomfort

Question 5

Surgical Treatment

Answer 5

• Invasive procedures: abrading, suturing, cutting, physical modifications

Question 6

Medical Treatment

Answer 6

• Hygienic
• Pharmacologic
• Nutritional
• Physical therapy

Question 7

Commonly used drugs

Answer 7

• Antibiotics
• Antimicrobials

Question 8

What is an antibiotic?

Answer 8

Substance produced by a microorganism and at low concentrations inhibits or kills other microorganisms
- Usually antibacterial

Question 9

What is an antimicrobial?

Answer 9

Any substance of natural, semi-synthetic, or synthetic origin that inhibits or kills the growth of a microorganism but causes little or no damage to the host
- Antibacterial, antiparasitic, antifungal, antiviral

Question 10

How do you classify antibiotics?

Answer 10

• Effect on bacteria
  • Bactericidal (kills the bacteria)
  • Bacteriostatic (inhibits growth of the bacteria)
• Spectrum of activity
  • Broad or narrow

Question 11

What are the different types of antibiotic activity?

Answer 11

• Time-dependent
• Concentration-dependent
• Hybrid (mix of time-dependent and concentration-dependent)

Question 12

Time-dependent Antibiotic Activity

Answer 12

Serum concentration of antibiotic remains above MIC (minimum inhibitory concentration) for majority of dosing interval.
NOTE: You want to stay at minimum concentration for a long time

Question 13

Concentration-dependent Antibiotic Activity

Answer 13

Focused on the peak concentration of antibiotic

Question 14

What is a sensitive microorganism?

Answer 14

The microorganism is susceptible to the drug

Question 15

What is a resistant microorganism?

Answer 15

The microorganism is not susceptible to the drug

Question 16

Sensitivity and Resistance

Answer 16

A microorganism’s sensitivity and resistance may be dose dependent

Question 17

What is an NSAID?

Answer 17

A nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug
• Examples: Aspirin, Flunixin meglumine, Ketoprofe

Question 18

What do NSAIDs do?

Answer 18

• Inhibit synthesis of prostaglandins
  • Released in response to injury
  • Cause vasodilation, erythema (redness), hyperalgesia (more pain)
• Indications: control pyrexia (fever), pain, inflammation
• Adverse reactions: GI ulcers, renal failure, impaired blood clotting, etc.

Question 19

What are some examples of steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs?

Answer 19

• Dexamethasone
• Hydrocortisone

Question 20

What do steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs do?

Answer 20

• Suppress inflammation in various ways
  • can be immunosuppressive
• Indications: Treat allergy and inflammation
• Adverse effects (after prolonged use): Metabolic disease, immunosuppressive, reactivation if latent infection

Question 21

What are fluids used for?

Answer 21

• Dehydration: Babies are very susceptible to dehydration
• Alterations in acid-base status
  • Acidosis or alkalosis
• Electrolyte abnormalities

Question 22

What are some considerations when using fluids?

Answer 22

• Volume
• Rate
• Route
• Severity of disease
• Aseptic technique
• Skill of caretaker
• Safety