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Antibiotic use discussed
Vets and preventing resistance

 At the recent BSAVA Congress, Ian Battersby discussed antibiotic resistance, and what can be done to slow down the process.

In his lecture - "Rational use of antibiotics" - he addressed the much-debated subject of resistance, and the responsibilities of the vet.

Addressing a busy lecture hall at the ICC in Birmingham, he said: "We are not in a crisis at the moment…there is a window to slow [resistance] down," in which the vet plays an important role.

Mr Battersby explained the risks of creating "a positive selection process for resistant bacteria." This, he added, occurs when multiple types of bacteria are unintentionally killed, thereby potentially allowing resistant bacteria to dominate.

In addressing this risk, he spoke of the importance of a practice infection control policy to monitor bugs effectively. The PROTECT poster, he says, is a useful tool for practices in achieving this.

Mr Battersby warned against using antibiotics "just in case" or as a substitute for proper hygiene practices during surgery. Using post-operative antibiotics, he added, is only appropriate in a few medical situations, and increases the risk of post-operative infection and multi-resistant bacteria.

Vets in practice, he said, should ask themselves at all times "am I using this drug appropriately?" By using topical antimicrobials where suitable, he added, it is possible to avoid accidental treatment of bowel bacteria, and as they enter the blood stream these can even work on resistant bacteria.

Developments in the treatment of human urinary tract infections (UTI) could be transferred to the veterinary industry, Mr Battersby continued. It was found that antibiotic courses for treating human UTIs could be reduced from 5-10 days to just 3 days with no detrimental effect.

Mr Battersby concluded his talk by saying that contrary to the opinions of some, antibiotic resistance is not inevitable, and vets have a significant role in slowing the process in time for the development of new drugs.

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Practices urged to audit neutering data

News Story 1
 RCVS Knowledge has called on vet practices to audit their post-operative neutering outcomes.

It follows the release of the 2024 NASAN benchmarking report, which collates data from neutering procedures performed on dogs, cats and rabbits.

The benchmarking report enables practices in the UK and Ireland to compare their post-operative outcomes to the national average. This includes the rate of patients lost to follow-up, which in 2024 increased to 23 per cent.

Anyone from the practice can submit the data using a free template. The deadline for next report is February 2026.

Visit the RCVS Knowledge website to complete an audit. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
New guidance for antibiotic use in rabbits

New best practice guidance on the responsible use of antibiotics in rabbits has been published by the BSAVA in collaboration with the Rabbit Welfare Association & Fund (RWA&F).

The guidance is free and has been produced to help veterinary practitioners select the most appropriate antibiotic for rabbits. It covers active substance, dose and route of administration all of which are crucial factors when treating rabbits owing to the risk of enterotoxaemia.

For more information and to access the guide, visit the BSAVALibrary.