Cross-sectional evaluation of a large-scale antimicrobial stewardship trial in Australian companion animal practices.

Abstract

Antimicrobial stewardship programmes (ASPs) are critically important for improving the appropriate use of antimicrobial agents in veterinary practice. One of three ASPs was implemented in 135 Australian general veterinary practices in 2018-2020. The ASP interventions and the perceived impact they had on antimicrobial prescribing were assessed by the veterinarians working in these veterinary practices. An online survey was distributed to all 520 veterinarians working in the trial practices and 267 responses were analysed. Most veterinarians (174/267, 65%) thought they had an ASP at their clinic and most respondents who said that they were aware that they had an ASP at their clinic indicated that they had changed the way they prescribed antimicrobials because of the trial (125/170, 74%). Antimicrobial prescribing guidelines, the traffic light system for indicating antimicrobial importance, delayed prescribing and antimicrobial stewardship champions were reported to have had the biggest impact. All practices in the trial belong to a single corporate group, which may impact the external validity of these results when applied to general small animal practice. Antimicrobial stewardship has a positive impact on antimicrobial prescribing in veterinary medicine and future interventions should focus on the implementation of the effective interventions identified in this study.