Use of large-scale veterinary data for the investigation of antimicrobial prescribing practices in equine medicine.

The research investigates the prescription rate and patterns of certain antimicrobials used in horse care in the US and Canada that are also critical for treating serious human infections. The study uses large-scale veterinary data from 2006 to 2012 and reveals that these antimicrobials are frequently employed without necessary testing, which can contribute to the emergence of antimicrobial resistance.

Study Objective and Importance

• The research aimed at understanding the prescribing patterns of ‘reserved’ antimicrobials — drugs that are critical to human health and meant to be used sparingly — in equine medicine in the US and Canada. This was done in an attempt to monitor and possibly control the widespread use of these drugs in veterinary practice, which can contribute significantly to the problem of antimicrobial resistance.

Research Methodology

• The study adopted a retrospective cohort approach using large-scale electronic medical records.
• Text mining techniques were employed to identify prescriptions for three ‘reserved’ antimicrobials: enrofloxacin, clarithromycin, and ceftiofur, administered over the period from 2006 to 2012.
• Time series analysis (analysis of data points ordered in time) and logistic regression (a statistical model used to predict binary outcomes) were used to discern trends in the use of these antimicrobials and identify the risk factors associated with their prescription.

Results of the Study

• The study found a common trend of prescribing these ‘reserved’ antimicrobials as a first-line treatment in horse care without carrying out necessary culture and sensitivity testing (CST). CST is a test to detect possible bacterial or fungal infection in animals.
• The usage of enrofloxacin was reported to increase over the study period, and a decrease or no change was noted in the trend of prescribing ‘reserved’ antimicrobials informed by CST.

Conclusion

• Due to the limitations of the data used, information about the adequacy of the dosages provided was unavailable.
• The empirical usage of ‘reserved’ antimicrobials for horses was quite high in the population studied. It was suggested that stricter guidelines should be provided to veterinarians to regulate the use of these drugs appropriately, helping to maintain their effectiveness and mitigate the issue of antimicrobial resistance.