Abstract
The rational use of drugs in veterinary medicine has various significances, such as reducing the risk of drug resistance, increasing efficacy, reducing drug residue, and decreasing adverse drug reactions. A retrospective study was conducted to assess veterinary drug prescribing practices at Batu and Arsi-Negelle district veterinary clinics in the rift valley areas of Ethiopia. A total of 2,464 cases were recorded from the case registration books at both the clinics for diseases treated between September 2012 and February 2015. The study results showed that for a total of 2,464 cases diagnosed at both clinics, 3,811 different drugs were prescribed, with an average per encounter of 1.6. Among the total drugs, oxytetracycline, ivermectin, penstrep, sulfa drugs, and albendazole were the most leading prescribed drugs with a frequency of 43.0%, 17.6%, 10.2%, 6.5%, and 1.3%, respectively. All drugs were prescribed by the generic name without any laboratory support of the disease. About 68.3% of the cases were diagnosed by unspecified professionals, whereas 21.7% and 10.1% were done by animal health assistants and veterinarians, respectively. The prescribing practices showed 61.0% of antibiotics and 29.7% of anthelmintics where 45.3% and 54.7% of antibiotics and 17.8% and 82.2% of anthelmintics were given at Batu and Arsi-Negelle veterinary clinics, respectively. Of the prescribed drugs, 4.6% oxytetracycline and 2.6% penstrep were prescribed irrationally to treat diseases that were tentatively diagnosed as parasitic cases. Similarly, 40.5% ivermectin and 17.7% albendazole were prescribed for bacterial infections. In conclusion, this study revealed problems in antibiotics and anthelmintics use, description of routes of administration and length of treatment, and shortage of laboratory diagnostic facilities. Therefore, veterinary drugs, particularly antibiotics and anthelmintics, should be used appropriately to safeguard the public from residual drug impacts and resistance development.
Highlights
Academic Editor: Antonio Ortega-Pacheco e rational use of drugs in veterinary medicine has various significances, such as reducing the risk of drug resistance, increasing efficacy, reducing drug residue, and decreasing adverse drug reactions
About 68.3% of the cases were diagnosed by unspecified professionals, whereas 21.7% and 10.1% were done by animal health assistants and veterinarians, respectively. e prescribing practices showed 61.0% of antibiotics and 29.7% of anthelmintics where 45.3% and 54.7% of antibiotics and 17.8% and 82.2% of anthelmintics were given at Batu and Arsi-Negelle veterinary clinics, respectively
Introduction e rational use of drugs is the use of the right medicines, correct dosage, and correct cost, which is well reflected in the World Health Organization (WHO) definition: “Rational use of drugs requires that patients receive medications appropriate to their clinical needs, in doses that meet their requirements for an adequate period, at the lowest cost” [1]
Summary
Academic Editor: Antonio Ortega-Pacheco e rational use of drugs in veterinary medicine has various significances, such as reducing the risk of drug resistance, increasing efficacy, reducing drug residue, and decreasing adverse drug reactions. E study results showed that for a total of 2,464 cases diagnosed at both clinics, 3,811 different drugs were prescribed, with an average per encounter of 1.6. The irrational use of medicines is when one or more of these conditions are not met, for example, too many medicines are prescribed per patient, injections are used where oral formulations would be more appropriate, antimicrobial agents are prescribed in inadequate doses or duration, or antibiotics prescribed for nonbacterial infections, thereby contributing to the growing problem of antimicrobial resistance and prescriptions do not follow clinical guidelines [2]. Veterinary Medicine International burden of diseases with overlapping clinical symptoms (e.g., pain, fever, and depression are common symptoms for different conditions which require different drugs) [3] lead to the irrational use of drugs causing ineffective and unsafe treatment, exacerbation or prolongation of illness, distress and harm to the patient, and increase the cost of treatment [4, 5]. Food animals and foods of animal origin are traded worldwide; drug resistance affecting the food supply of one country becomes a potential problem for other countries [2]
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