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EmailIphone Application    Posted: 19th November 2024
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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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Birmingham Dogs Home makes urgent appeal

News Story 1
 Birmingham Dogs Home has issued an urgent winter appeal as it faces more challenges over the Christmas period.

The rescue centre has seen a dramatic increase in dogs coming into its care, and is currently caring for over 200 dogs. With rising costs and dropping temperatures, the charity is calling for urgent support.

It costs the charity £6,000 per day to continue its work.

Fi Harrison, head of fundraising and communications, said: "It's heart-breaking for our team to see the conditions some dogs arrive in. We really are their last chance and hope of survival."

More information about the appeal can be found here. 

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News Shorts
Avian flu confirmed at premises in Cornwall

A case of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 has been detected in commercial poultry at a premises near Rosudgeon, Cornwall.

All poultry on the infected site will be humanely culled, and a 3km protection zone and 10km surveillance zone have been put in place. Poultry and other captive birds in the 3km protection zone must be housed.

The case is the second avian flu case confirmed in commercial poultry this month. The H5N5 strain was detected in a premises near Hornsea, East Riding of Yorkshire, in early November. Before then, the disease had not been confirmed in captive birds in England since February.

The UK chief veterinary officer has urged bird keepers to remain alert and practise robust biosecurity.

A map of the disease control zones can be found here.