title: Opinions of clinical veterinarians at a US veterinary teaching hospital regarding antimicrobial use and antimicrobial-resistant infections.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine opinions of faculty members with clinical appointments, clinical veterinarians, residents, and interns at a US veterinary teaching hospital regarding antimicrobial use and antimicrobial-resistant infections.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional survey.
  
  
  METHODS
  71 veterinarians.
  
  
  METHODS
  An online questionnaire was sent to all veterinarians with clinical service responsibilities at the North Carolina State University veterinary teaching hospital (n = 167). The survey included 23 questions regarding demographic information, educational experiences, current prescribing practices, and personal opinions related to antimicrobial selection, antimicrobial use, restrictions on antimicrobial use, and antimicrobial resistance.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 167 veterinarians eligible to participate, 71 (43%) responded. When respondents were asked to rate their level of concern (very concerned = 1; not concerned = 5) about antimicrobial-resistant infections, most (41/70 [59%]) assigned a score of 1, with mean score for all respondents being 1.5. Most survey participants rated their immediate colleagues (mean score, 1.9) as more concerned than other veterinary medical professionals (mean score, 2.3) and their clients (mean score, 3.4). Fifty-nine of 67 (88%) respondents felt that antimicrobials were overprescribed at the hospital, and 32 of 69 (46%) respondents felt uncomfortable prescribing at least one class of antimicrobials (eg, carbapenems or glycopeptides) because of public health concerns.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings indicated that veterinarians at this teaching hospital were concerned about antimicrobial resistance, thought antimicrobials were overprescribed, and supported restricting use of certain antimicrobial classes in companion animals. Findings may be useful in educating future veterinarians and altering prescribing habits and antimicrobial distribution systems in veterinary hospitals.
authors.forename: Megan E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Jacob
authors.forename: Jane A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Hoppin
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Steers
authors.forename: Jennifer L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.forename: Gigi
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Davidson
authors.forename: Bernie
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hansen
authors.forename: Katharine F
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: Lunn
authors.forename: K Marcia
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.forename: Mark G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Papich
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects*; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003625:Data Collection; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial; D004520:Education, Veterinary; D005260:Female; D006762:Hospitals, Animal; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011364:Professional Practice; D012582:Schools, Veterinary; D014481:United States; D018634:Veterinarians
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents