Drug selection and use in mastitis: systemic vs local therapy

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Pharmacology
• Antimicrobial Therapy
• Dairy Cattle Health

Background:

• Clinical mastitis requires effective antibacterial drug concentrations at the infection site.
• Drug properties and administration routes significantly impact treatment efficacy.
• Understanding drug pharmacokinetics is crucial for managing udder infections.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the optimal properties of antibacterial drugs for treating clinical mastitis.
• To evaluate drug administration routes and their impact on achieving effective concentrations.
• To guide the selection of appropriate antibiotics for intramammary and systemic use.

Main Methods:

• Review of scientific literature on antibacterial drug properties and mastitis treatment.
• Analysis of in vitro drug sensitivity (minimal inhibitory concentration) and physicochemical properties.
• Evaluation of drug bioavailability, distribution, and absorption characteristics.

Main Results:

• Intramuscular oxytetracycline and chloramphenicol have poor bioavailability; intravenous administration is recommended.
• Macrolide antibiotics show good blood-to-udder passage but have a narrow spectrum (gram-positive).
• Some highly active in vitro drugs exhibit poor udder distribution and limited systemic absorption.

Conclusions:

• Drug selection for mastitis should consider in vitro activity, physicochemical properties, and pharmacokinetic profiles.
• Intravenous administration may be necessary for drugs with limited intramuscular bioavailability.
• Optimizing drug delivery and distribution within the udder is essential for successful clinical mastitis treatment.