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Survey highlights vets' AMR concerns
85 per cent of vets raised concern about the potential enforced restriction on veterinary use of antimicrobials in the future.
Overprescribing and poor owner compliance among the key worries. 

The BVA has released new figures suggesting that antimicrobial resistance (AMR) remains the leading concern amongst UK vets when it comes to treating animal infections.

The figures, published at the start of World Antimicrobial Awareness Week (18-24 November), show that 87 per cent of vets cited AMR as their top concern in the BVA's Voice of the Veterinary Profession Survey.

Of the 497 vets who responded, 85 per cent expressed concern about the potential enforced restriction on veterinary use of antimicrobials in the future. Furthermore, 73 per cent were worried about the inability to control infections after surgery.

Overprescribing, poor owner compliance and lack of sensitivity testing were among the key reasons cited by vets as the main drivers of AMR in animals. Another highly rated concern was pressure from clients expecting to be given antibiotics, with 77 per cent of vets having experienced this in practice.

Dr. Elizabeth Mullineaux, president of the British Veterinary Association (BVA), urged vets to continue working with their clients to limit the need for using antimicrobials.

She said: “Antimicrobial resistance is a concern for animal and human health globally. Our latest Voice of the Veterinary Profession survey shows that vets in the UK, like their counterparts in human medicine, remain worried about the excessive and improper use of these medicines leading to the inability to treat infections.

“We’ve made huge progress in refining and reducing antimicrobial use in farm animals in the UK, but we can do more across all species. We know that every use of antimicrobials increases the risk of selection for resistant bacteria, so we must ensure that our use of antimicrobials is responsible. This includes creating practice-based protocols for common infections, undertaking bacterial culture and sensitivity testing whenever possible, and reporting treatment failures to the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD).

“We must also continue working with clients to avoid the need for antimicrobials in the first place through preventative healthcare and encourage their responsible use and disposal through initiatives like the Antibiotic Amnesty campaign.”

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Antibiotic Amnesty survey opens

News Story 1
 The Responsible Use of Medicines Alliance - Companion Animal and Equine (RUMA - CA&E) has launched a survey which seeks to measure the success of this year's Antibiotic Amnesty campaign.

Its results will help the group to calculate how many unused or out-of-date antibiotics were returned as part of the campaign throughout November. Practices are also asked how they engaged with clients to raise awareness of the issue.

Participating practices can enter a prize draw to win up to 100 in vouchers for taking part. Further prizes from BSAVA and Webinar Vet will be available for practices with the best input.

The survey takes a few minutes to complete and will be running throughout December. It can be accessed via this link

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News Shorts
Bluetongue cases lead to restricted zone extension

Following the detection of new cases of bluetongue virus serotype 3 (BTV-3), the restricted zone has been extended to include additional parts of Hampshire, Wiltshire, Oxfordshire and North Yorkshire, as well as Bournemouth, Christchurch, Poole and part of Dorset.

The zone now covers 28 counties and unitary authorities in England. As of 16 December, 185 cases of BTV-3 have been confirmed in England and Wales during the current vector period.

Bluetongue is a notifiable disease. Suspected cases must be reported on 03000 200 301 in England or 03003 038 268 in Wales. In Scotland, suspected cases should be reported to the local field services office. Suspected cases in Northern Ireland should be reported to the DAERA Helpline on 0300 200 7840 or by contacting the local DAERA Direct Veterinary Office.

A map of the area where movement restrictions apply can be found here.