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VMD issues advice on cascade use of antibiotics
antibiotics
VMD has released a position statement in response to concerns over antibiotic use on the cascade.
Vets report conflict between responsible use and legal requirements

The Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) is calling for professional bodies, veterinary schools and research institutes to work together to help vets make a more informed choice when prescribing antibiotics on the cascade.

Veterinary surgeons have raised concerns with the VMD about the difficulty of balancing the responsible use of antibiotics with legal requirements to prescribe UK authorised medicines before applying the cascade.

According to the VMD, vets are reporting an increasingly common challenge - where there is an authorised medicine that is a critically important antibiotic (CIA) and/or is not narrow spectrum. Under legislative requirements, this should be used as a first line treatment, rather than an unauthorised, non-CIA drug.

However, in some cases, other products authorised for use in other EU member states may be more appropriate in terms of the responsible use of antibiotics.

In response to these concerns, the VMD has issued its position statement on prescribing antibiotics under the cascade.

On a case-by-case basis, the directorate says it is "justified" to to prescribe an antibiotic on the cascade to reduce the development of resistance.

Vets must demonstrate that they have considered the most appropriate active substance(s), formulation, posology, current patterns of resistance in their locality, awareness of how to reduce selection pressure and other factors, such as good biosecurity, husbandry, hygiene and avoidance of surgical sepsis.

VMD is calling for the industry to collaborate on compiling up-to-date evidence and guidance to help vets make an informed choice based on scientific evidence and peer reviewed data.

Vets are also advised to keep up-to-date with the latest guidance provided by organisations including the BVA, BSAVA, BEVA, Pig Veterinary Society and Responsible Use of Medicines in Agriculture.

For the full position statement, see the VMD website: http://www.vmd.defra.gov.uk/pdf/cascade.pdf

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Vets to run marathon for World Animal Protection

News Story 1
 Two recently graduated veterinary surgeons will be running the London Marathon in April to raise money for the charity World Animal Protection.

Alex Bartlett and Maeve O'Neill plan to run the race together if they are given the same start times.

Dr O'Neill said: "You're always limited in what you can do to help animals, so it is nice to raise money for a charity that helps animals around the world."

Dr Bartlett added: "I have never run a marathon before and am excited to run my first one for such a good cause!"

Both Dr Bartlett and Dr O'Neill have fundraising pages online. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
BSAVA releases new Guide to Procedures

The British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) has published a new edition of its Guide to Procedures for Small Animal Practice.

It has added four new procedures; cystostomy tube placement, endotracheal intubation, point-of-care ultrasound and wet-to-dry dressings.

BSAVA says that it is an essential step-by-step guide to diagnostic and therapeutic procedures performed in practice. The textbook includes new images and illustrations, as well as high-definition videos for use prior to procedures.

Nick Bexfield and Julia Riggs, editors of the new edition, said: "We have built upon the success of the previous editions by responding to the feedback received from the BSAVA readership, and hope this new guide helps to further increase the confidence and accuracy with which these procedures are performed."

Print copies are available in the BSAVA store, with a digital version in the BSAVA library.