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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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FIVP announces third series of Practice Matters

News Story 1
 The Federation of Independent Veterinary practices (FIVP) has announced a third season of its podcast, Practice Matters.

Hosted by Ian Wolstenholme, series three will focus on the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) investigation, including a discussion about some of the expected impacts on independent veterinary colleagues.

Episode one launches on 13th January with guests Drs David Reader and Scott Summers, who will draw on their research into the CMA investigation and provide insights into themes such as transparency, pricing and consumer trust.

Ian Wolstenholme said: "In its third series, we will try and hone in on what the changes will mean in reality for independent practices with advice and guidance on implementation and delivery, drawing on the experience of our own team and other experts in the profession. Hope you can join us soon!" 

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News Shorts
Survey seeks ruminant sector views on antimicrobial stewardship

A new survey is seeking views of people working in the UK ruminant sector on how to tackle the challenge of demonstrating responsible antibiotic stewardship.

Forming part of a wider, collaborative initiative, the results will help identify the types of data available so that challenges with data collection can be better understood and addressed.

Anyone working in the UK farming sector, including vets and farmers,is encouraged to complete the survey, which is available at app.onlinesurveys.jisc.ac.uk