Abstract
Antimicrobial Resistance is a global crisis that veterinarians contribute to through their use of antimicrobials in animals. Antimicrobial stewardship has been shown to be an effective means to reduce antimicrobial resistance in hospital environments. Effective monitoring of antimicrobial usage patterns is an essential part of antimicrobial stewardship and is critical in reducing the development of antimicrobial resistance. The aim of this study is to describe how frequently antimicrobials were used in veterinary consultations and identify the most frequently used antimicrobials. Using VetCompass Australia, Natural Language Processing techniques, and the Australian Strategic Technical Advisory Group’s (ASTAG) Rating system to classify the importance of antimicrobials, descriptive analysis was performed on the antimicrobials prescribed in consultations from 137 companion animal veterinary clinics in Australia between 2013 and 2017 (inclusive). Of the 4,400,519 consultations downloaded there were 595,089 consultations where antimicrobials were prescribed to dogs or cats. Antimicrobials were dispensed in 145 of every 1000 canine consultations; and 38 per 1000 consultations involved high importance rated antimicrobials. Similarly with cats, 108 per 1000 consultations had antimicrobials dispensed, and in 47 per 1000 consultations an antimicrobial of high importance rating was administered. The most common antimicrobials given to cats and dogs were cefovecin and amoxycillin clavulanate, respectively. The most common topical antimicrobial and high-rated topical antimicrobial given to dogs and cats was polymyxin B. This study provides a descriptive analysis of the antimicrobial usage patterns in Australia using methods that can be automated to inform antimicrobial use surveillance programs and promote antimicrobial stewardship.
Highlights
Infections due to microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, parasites and viruses were a major cause of death until the discovery of antimicrobials [1]
This study provides a descriptive analysis of the antimicrobial usage patterns in Australia using methods that can be automated to inform antimicrobial use surveillance programs and promote antimicrobial stewardship
Clinical data from 93 practices was required in order to be 95% confident that the estimated rate of antimicrobial usage (AMU) in the 3,222 veterinary clinics of Australia was within 10% of the actual rate of AMU, based on Cochran’s formula for the representativeness of proportions
Summary
Infections due to microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, parasites and viruses were a major cause of death until the discovery of antimicrobials [1]. While antimicrobials save countless lives [2], resistance to these drugs has been detected in clinical specimens soon after their introduction to clinical practice [3]. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in bacteria has shown a dramatic increase over the last decade and is currently considered an emergent global phenomenon and a major public health problem [4]. AMR is causing poor animal health and welfare outcomes associated with treatment failures in veterinary medicine [9,10]. Antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) has been shown to be one of the most effective ways to reduce AMR in a hospital environment [11,12,13,14]
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