Antimicrobial Prescribing Practices Among Sri Lankan Veterinarians for Common Medical Conditions in Companion Animals
Abstract
Veterinarians are essential in antimicrobial stewardship. Companion animal (CA) practitioners have recently received more attention. There are few relevant studies on CA antimicrobial prescribing practices in South Asia. A cross-sectional survey on the antimicrobial prescribing practices of Sri Lankan veterinarians associated with six common CA infections and factors associated with bacterial culture and antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) was conducted. A survey of antimicrobial prescribing practices was distributed via email or professional events among veterinarians treating CAs. There were 127 respondents. Most were from CA-only practices (63%); the remainder worked in government, mixed, or other practices. Based on the World Health Organization's criteria, 1.7% (13/783) of cases were treated with drugs authorized for human use only; 23.9% (187/783) were treated with highest-priority critically important antimicrobials; 4.7% (37/783) were treated with critically important antimicrobials, and 66.8% (523/783) were treated with highly important antimicrobials. The antimicrobial treatment of abscesses, skin, urinary, and ear infections was usually empirical, with only 12.4% (72/579) of cases utilizing AST to guide diagnosis and treatment. The use of AST was significantly associated with the type of antibiotic prescribed, the medical condition, the practice type, and continuing professional development, with the latter recognized as a pathway toward improved veterinary…
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence Hub reads this as a cross-sectional. Its evidence level is 4 of 5 (Low · observational). Observational designs can show an association but not prove cause.
Read the paper
Related studies
- Horizontal gene transfer in the human gastrointestinal tract: potential spread of antibiotic resistance genes
- Mutation supply and relative fitness shape the genotypes of ciprofloxacin-resistant Escherichia coli
- Genomic Survey of E. coli From the Bladders of Women With and Without Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms
- Characterization of cefotaxime-resistant urinary Escherichia coli from primary care in South-West England 2017–18
- Fitness cost constrains the spectrum of marR mutations in ciprofloxacin-resistant Escherichia coli
- Emerging evidence-based innovative approaches to control catheter-associated urinary tract infection: a review
Go deeper in Evidence Hub
Evidence Hub adds a study data sheet (design, sample size, evidence level, key numbers), an AI summary and a chat grounded in the paper's text.