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BEVA backs World Antimicrobial Awareness Week
BEVA has updated its award-winning Protect ME toolkit.

Daily quiz and live debate to encourage best practice in antibiotic use.

The British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA) has announced an exciting line up of quizzes, live debates and upgraded resources in preparation for World Antimicrobial Awareness Week (18-24 November) and to encourage the continued reduction of critically important antibiotics.

Organised annually by the World Health Organisation, World Antimicrobial Awareness Week (WAWW) aims to increase awareness of global antimicrobial resistance and to encourage best practices to avoid the further emergence and spread of drug-resistant infections.

Throughout the week, BEVA will be running a daily quiz on antimicrobial stewardship, with a vet asking members a question every morning, via video, and providing the answer in the evening. 

On European Antibiotic Awareness Day (18 November), BEVA will be hosting a live debate, with leading names from the veterinary and human health sectors giving TED-style talks, which will be preceded by a series of case discussions with a panel of vets.

Mark Bowen, co-opted member of BEVA’s Health and Medicines Committee, said: “BEVA remains opposed to overly restrictive legislation on antibiotic use but believes that the membership has an important role to play in maintaining our freedom to prescribe under the cascade.

“It is great to see BEVA making full use of World Antimicrobial Awareness Week to interact with members, encourage healthy debate and make practical information and research highly accessible.”

Among the updated resources includes an upgrade to BEVA's award-winning Protect ME toolkit, including new content and refreshed graphics. This free resource for BEVA members aims to help compliance and facilitate the education of horse owners about the importance of antimicrobial stewardship.

David Rendle, chair of BEVA’s Health and Medicines Committee, said: “We have made great strides since the Protect ME guidelines were introduced, but multi-resistant bacteria are an increasing problem in equine practice. Affected horses have longer recovery times and their owners are faced with higher costs of treatment.

“Regrettably some multi-resistant infections simply do not respond to treatment, leading to euthanasia. The problem is relevant to all vets and all horse owners, and we must all take responsibility for slowing the development of resistance.”

Antibiotic Awareness Week will also see BEVA share a variety of research papers on antimicrobials published in Equine Veterinary Education (EVE) and the Equine Veterinary Journal (EVJ) as well as relevant online CPD resources.

Become a member or log in to add this story to your CPD history

Cold-water dip to raise funds for Vetlife

News Story 1
 The veterinary mental health charity Vetlife is inviting the veterinary community to join it for a sponsored cold-water dip.

The event will take place at Walpole Bay, Margate, on 17 May during Mental Health Awareness Week. Participants of all abilities can join in the challenge and are advised to bring a towel, a hot drink, a snack, and warm clothes to get changed into afterwards.

Those taking part are being asked to try to raise 100 each to support the work of the charity.

Details about how to take part can be found here. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
Bluetongue low vector period ends

In an update to its bluetongue guidance, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has announced that the seasonal low vector period for the disease has ended.

With winter over, Defra is planning for a possible increase in cases as midges become more active. It has warned that farms along the east coast of England from Norfolk to Kent, and along the south coast from Kent to Devon, are at highest risk from infected midges blown over from northern Europe.

Since the virus was detected in England in November 2023, there have been 126 confirmed cases. The most recent case to be confirmed was on 1 March 2024.

Farmers are asked to continue to frequently monitor their livestock and ensure their animals and land are registered with the Animal and Plant Health Agency.