A survey of veterinary antimicrobial prescribing practices, Washington State 2015.
Antimicrobial resistance is a growing global health issue. It is also a recognised problem in veterinary medicine. Between September and December 2015 the authors administered a cross-sectional survey to licensed veterinarians in Washington State to assess factors affecting antimicrobial prescribing practices among veterinarians in Washington State. Two hundred and three veterinarians completed the survey. The majority of respondents (166, 82 per cent) were engaged in small animal or exotic animal practice. 24 per cent of respondents reported not ordering culture and sensitivity (C/S) testing in practice. Of the 76 per cent of veterinarians who reported ordering C/S tests, 36 per cent reported ordering such testing 'often' or 'always' when treating presumptive bacterial infections. Most respondents (65 per cent) mentioned cost as the most common barrier to ordering a C/S test. Only 16 (10 per cent) respondents reported having access to or utilising a clinic-specific antibiogram. This survey demonstrated that while antimicrobials are commonly used in veterinary practice, and veterinarians are concerned about antimicrobial resistance, cost is a barrier to obtaining C/S tests to guide antimicrobial therapy. Summaries of antimicrobial resistance patterns are rarely available to the practising veterinarian. Efforts to promote antimicrobial stewardship in a 'One Health' manner should address barriers to the judicious use of antimicrobials in the veterinary practice setting.
Department of Occupational and Environmental Health Sciences, Center for One Health Research (COHR), University of Washington School of Public Health, Seattle, Washington, USA.
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Fowler
Washington State One Health Veterinary Workgroup.
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MA
Davis
Washington State One Health Veterinary Workgroup.
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Perkins
Department of Occupational and Environmental Health Sciences, Center for One Health Research (COHR), University of Washington School of Public Health, Seattle, Washington, USA.
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Trufan
Washington State One Health Veterinary Workgroup.
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C
Joy
Washington State One Health Veterinary Workgroup.
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Buswell
Washington State One Health Veterinary Workgroup.
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McElwain
Washington State One Health Veterinary Workgroup.
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Moore
Washington State One Health Veterinary Workgroup.
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Worhle
Department of Occupational and Environmental Health Sciences, Center for One Health Research (COHR), University of Washington School of Public Health, Seattle, Washington, USA.
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Rabinowitz
D000818:Animals; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004352:Drug Resistance, Microbial; D006801:Humans; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000662:veterinary; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D018634:Veterinarians / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014861:Washington
D000890:Anti-Infective Agents
Antibiotic; Antimicrobial; One Health; Veterinary; antimicrobial resistance