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Antimicrobial resistance poses a significant and growing threat to human and animal health. Once antimicrobial resistance develops, it can result in treatment failure in veterinary patients and risks transferring resistant bacteria to people.
The study, by Sarah Allen and colleagues, set out to monitor antimicrobial use in equids in the UK. It was conducted as part of the VetCompass programme at the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) and was funded by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate.
The researchers used anonymised electronic health record data from 64,322 horses, ponies and donkeys in the year 2018, supplied by 39 veterinary practices. They analysed both the prescription data and clinical notes documented within these records.
Their findings highlighted that in 2018, approximately 20% of equids attended by the participating veterinary practices were prescribed an antimicrobial licensed for systemic administration. Potentiated sulphonamides were the most commonly prescribed class of antibacterial agent.
However, nearly nine per cent of treated equids received a Category B antimicrobial. The use of these agents, such as quinolones, 3rd- and 4th-generation cephalosporins and polymyxins, is restricted to try to ensure they remain effective for treating serious illness in human medicine.
Bacteriological culture and sensitivity testing was found to be rarely employed, despite its importance in protecting against antimicrobial resistance, by identifying the most appropriate antimicrobial to use. Fewer than one in five antimicrobial courses that included a Category B antimicrobial were supported by culture and sensitivity testing.
The study also identified several important risk factors for increased antimicrobial usage. The research team found that the highest usage groups of Category B antimicrobials were equids under one year old, Thoroughbreds and racehorses.
Meanwhile, the most common disorders that were treated with antimicrobials were urogenital (urinary and genital tracts), integumentary (skin and gland organs) and respiratory (airways, lungs and blood vessels) conditions.
Dr Allen said “The surveillance of equine antimicrobial usage helps the veterinary profession demonstrate their commitment to the responsible prescribing of antibiotics in the horse. We hope that by reporting on how commonly antimicrobials are prescribed to horses, and demonstrating where stewardship may be improved, others will look to compare and better their own prescribing of these vital medicines.
She suggests that more needs to be done to encourage the use of culture and sensitivity testing prior to treatment, especially when Category B antimicrobials are concerned. This will help ensure they remain effective and will reduce the risk of antimicrobial resistance developing.
For more details, see:
Use of antimicrobials licensed for systemic administration in UK equine practice
Sarah E. Allen, Kristien L. P. Verheyen, Dan G. O'Neill, Dave C. Brodbelt
Equine Vet J (2022)
2 comments:
Very interesting. I know a practice that hands out antibiotics like smarties!
The dairy farmers down the road have literally buckets of cat B antibiotics . Vets are unlikely to take culture and sensitivity spec as this will cost the owner more. As well, vets are limited in their training and understanding as no way can they attain the same understanding as a human doctor when, in the same or less training time they come out having to treat multiple species and also do surgery. It’s going to be an uphill battle with vet education.
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