Description
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a growing threat to human and veterinary healthcare. AMR is associated with surgery, hospitalisation, and inappropriate antibiotic use. Antimicrobial stewardship aims to reduce antibiotic use and the prevalence of resistance without affecting clinical outcomes. We will look at some of the drivers behind antibiotic use and discuss how to address these. Common reasons for systemic antimicrobial use in dogs and cats include dermatitis, respiratory disease, urinary tract infections, and gastrointestinal problems. Most infections involve a dysbiosis of the resident microbiome rather than a primary infection. Failure to manage this appropriate drives repeated antibiotic use and selection for resistance. We’ll discuss how to reduce antibiotic use without compromising clinical outcomes using canine pyoderma as an example.
