Fosfomycin residues in colostrum: Impact on morpho‐physiology and microbiology of suckling piglets.

Fosfomycin is a broad‐spectrum bactericidal antibiotic widely used in pig farms for the treatment of a wide variety of bacterial infections. In this study, the elimination of disodium fosfomycin in colostrum/milk of the sow and the impact of this antibiotic on the microbiota and intestinal morpho‐physiology of suckling piglets were analyzed. The average amount of fosfomycin eliminated in colostrum (after administration of 15 mg/kg IM) during the first 10 hr postpartum was 0.85 μg/ml, and the mean residual amount ingested by the piglets was 0.26 mg/kg. The elimination profile of fosfomycin concentrations in colostrum occurs at a time of profound changes in the morpho‐physiology of the gastrointestinal tract of the piglet. However, the studied concentrations did not produce imbalances on the microbiota or on the morpho‐physiology of the gastrointestinal tract of the piglet. Concentrations of fosfomycin were maintained in the mammary gland above the MIC for more than 8 hr for pathogenic bacteria of productive importance. This would indicate that fosfomycin may be considered safe for the specific treatment of bacterial infectious processes in sows during the peri‐ and postpartum period. This first study with disodium fosfomycin stimulates awareness in the proper use of antimicrobials at farrowing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]