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Home / Equine Research Bank / Microbiol Spectr / Optimization of Antimicrobial Treatment to Minimize Resistan...
Microbiology spectrum2018; 6(3); doi: 10.1128/microbiolspec.ARBA-0018-2017

Optimization of Antimicrobial Treatment to Minimize Resistance Selection.

Abstract: Optimization of antimicrobial treatment is a cornerstone in the fight against antimicrobial resistance. Various national and international authorities and professional veterinary and farming associations have released generic guidelines on prudent antimicrobial use in animals. However, these generic guidelines need to be translated into a set of animal species- and disease-specific practice recommendations. This article focuses on prevention of antimicrobial resistance and its complex relationship with treatment efficacy, highlighting key situations where the current antimicrobial drug products, treatment recommendations, and practices may be insufficient to minimize antimicrobial selection. The authors address this topic using a multidisciplinary approach involving microbiology, pharmacology, clinical medicine, and animal husbandry. In the first part of the article, we define four key targets for implementing the concept of optimal antimicrobial treatment in veterinary practice: (i) reduction of overall antimicrobial consumption, (ii) improved use of diagnostic testing, (iii) prudent use of second-line, critically important antimicrobials, and (iv) optimization of dosage regimens. In the second part, we provided practice recommendations for achieving these four targets, with reference to specific conditions that account for most antimicrobial use in pigs (intestinal and respiratory disease), cattle (respiratory disease and mastitis), dogs and cats (skin, intestinal, genitourinary, and respiratory disease), and horses (upper respiratory disease, neonatal foal care, and surgical infections). Lastly, we present perspectives on the education and research needs for improving antimicrobial use in the future.
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Publication Date: 2018-06-23 PubMed ID: 29932044DOI: 10.1128/microbiolspec.ARBA-0018-2017Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This research explores how to optimize antimicrobial treatment in animals to minimise the risk of antimicrobial resistance. The study crafts practical recommendations customised for different species and diseases, and provides key targets for implementation in veterinary practice and future research.

Explanation of the Research

The research highlights the implications of incorrect and overuse of antimicrobials in animals, leading to antimicrobial resistance—a significant global health issue. Such resistance could affect the treatment efficacy and exacerbate the disease scenario among animals. Therefore, it is essential to understand how the current practices contribute to the problem and how these can be rectified.

Key Targets

  • Reduction of overall antimicrobial consumption: Unnecessary use of antibiotics must be avoided. Not every disease condition requires antimicrobial treatment.
  • Improved use of diagnostic testing: Prioritizing diagnostic tests before prescribing antibiotics helps in identifying the specific causative agent and in administering the precise type of antibiotic.
  • Prudent use of second-line, critically important antimicrobials: The use of top-tier or powerful antibiotics must be limited. The excessive use of such antibiotics might lead to the emergence of superbugs that are resistant to all antibiotic types.
  • Optimization of dosage regimens: It’s essential to give the right dose for an adequate duration to attain effective treatment outcomes and reduce antibiotic resistance risks.

Practice Recommendations

To reach these targets, the researchers provide species- and disease-specific practice recommendations. These are expanded upon in regards to common illnesses in pigs, cattle, dogs, cats, and horses. The goal is for these strategies to reduce antimicrobial consumption and improve treatment efficacy.

Education and Research Needs

The researchers also emphasize the importance of ongoing education and research in the field. Better informed, educated stakeholders are important to cocking antimicrobial resistance and improving the health outcomes for animals. Furthermore, there is a need for continuous research to develop advanced tools, better diagnostic tests and to discover new, less resistance-inducing drugs.

Cite This Article

APA
Guardabassi L, Apley M, Olsen JE, Toutain PL, Weese S. (2018). Optimization of Antimicrobial Treatment to Minimize Resistance Selection. Microbiol Spectr, 6(3). https://doi.org/10.1128/microbiolspec.ARBA-0018-2017

Publication

Microbiology spectrum
ISSN: 2165-0497
NlmUniqueID: 101634614
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 6
Issue: 3

Researcher Affiliations

Guardabassi, Luca
  • Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 1870 Frederiksberg C, Denmark.
Apley, Mike
  • Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Manhattan, Kansas, 66506.
Olsen, John Elmerdahl
  • Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 1870 Frederiksberg C, Denmark.
Toutain, Pierre-Louis
  • INTHERES, Université de Toulouse, INRA, ENVT, Toulouse, France.
Weese, Scott
  • Department of Pathobiology, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, Canada.

MeSH Terms

  • Animal Diseases / drug therapy
  • Animal Diseases / microbiology
  • Animal Husbandry
  • Animals
  • Anti-Infective Agents / administration & dosage
  • Bacterial Infections / drug therapy
  • Bacterial Infections / veterinary
  • Cats
  • Cattle
  • Dogs
  • Drug Resistance, Bacterial
  • Female
  • Horses
  • Swine

Citations

This article has been cited 36 times.
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