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EU and UK farm antibiotic sales continue to fall
The UK remains one of the lowest users of antibiotics overall.
“It’s very positive to see this downward trend across almost all countries” - Cat McLaughlin, chair of RUMA.

Farm animal antibiotic sales in Europe have fallen once again, with the UK being among the lowest user of antibiotics overall, according to new figures.

Data from the 10th Annual Report from the European Surveillance of Veterinary Antimicrobial Consumption (ESVAC), published on Wednesday (21 Oct), examined antibiotic sales across different European countries in 2018.

Cat McLaughlin, chair of RUMA, welcomed the report: “It’s very positive to see this downward trend across almost all countries, not just in terms of total sales but also the highest priority antibiotics – 3rd and 4th generation cephalosporins, fluoroquinolones and colistin,” she said.

“While the use of antibiotics in food production is not the main driver of antibiotic-resistant infections in people, it can be a contributing factor. Any use of an antibiotic has the potential to create resistance and, as part of a One Health approach, we all have a duty to protect the efficacy of medical and veterinary antibiotics by reducing, refining or replacing use.”

She added that the UK's significant reductions in antibiotic use in farm animals meant it remained among the lowest users of antibiotics overall, and the lowest among European countries with large farm animal sectors and domestic populations.

“The efforts and enthusiasm demonstrated by the UK livestock farmers and animal health practitioners to embrace RUMA principles of using antibiotics and other veterinary medicines responsibly to achieve these results has been phenomenal,” she said.

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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. 

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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.