Antibiotic Resistance
Veterinarians: Protect Your Patients
Veterinarians are leaders and stewards in preserving the effectiveness of antibiotics for animals and people. Working with animal owners and producers, veterinarians can slow antibiotic resistance by implementing disease prevention strategies and improving the use of antibiotics while also guaranteeing high-quality medical care for animal patients.
What are antibiotics?
Antibiotics are medicines that fight bacterial infections. Used properly, they can save lives. But there is a growing problem of antibiotic resistance. It happens when bacteria change and become able to resist the effects of an antibiotic. And Antibiotic resistance leads to higher medical costs, prolonged hospital stays, and increased mortality.
Antibiotics can be taken in different ways:
- Orally (by mouth). This could be pills, capsules, or liquids.
- This might be a cream, spray, or ointment that you put on your skin. It could also be eye or ear drops.
Through an injection or intravenously (I.V). This is usually for more serious infections
Using antibiotics can lead to resistance. Each time you take antibiotics, sensitive bacteria are killed. But resistant germs may be left to grow and multiply. They can spread to other people. They can also cause infections that certain antibiotics cannot cure. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is one example. It causes infections that are resistant to several common antibiotics
To help prevent antibiotic resistance
- Don’t use antibiotics for viruses like colds or flu. Antibiotics don’t work on viruses.
- Don’t pressure your doctor to give you an antibiotic.
- When you take antibiotics, follow the directions carefully. Finish your medicine even if you feel better. If you stop treatment too soon, some bacteria may survive and re-infect you.
- Don’t save antibiotics for later or use someone else’s prescription.
Prevent Disease
Implement best practices for animal husbandry, vaccination, nutrition, and biosecurity. Educate people who engage with animals on how to prevent disease.
Clean Your Hands & Equipment
Wash your hands regularly to remove germs, avoid getting sick, and prevent spread of germs between animals and people. Disinfect equipment to help prevent spread among animals and between farms.
Maintain Accurate Records of Treatment & Outcomes
Document and review diagnostic test results and patient response to therapy. Re-evaluate reason for prescribing, dose, and duration as needed.
Select & Use Antibiotics Appropriately
Follow regulatory requirements (antibiotic use should involve veterinary oversight per U.S. guidance). Use current established guidelines and diagnostic tests to assess the need, selection, dose, frequency, and duration of antibiotics
Stay Current
Stay up-to-date on disease prevention tools; consensus and prescribing guidelines; local, state, and federal requirements; and professional standards for antibiotic use.
Prevent Environmental Contamination
Dispose of unused or expired antibiotics appropriately
Commit to Antibiotic Stewardship
Implement practice-level stewardship activities, including documenting antibiotic use data, examining use practices, and serving as an educational resource for clients. Engage veterinary diagnostic labs to provide antibiograms to help determine which antibiotics will effectively treat infections. Become familiar with and use the American Veterinary Medical Association established antibiotic use principles to build an antibiotic stewardship plan for your practice settings.
