ADVICEFROMTHE VET
SAVING THEM FOR THE FUTURE By Mary Davis, BVMBVS Cert AVP(Int Med) MRCVS
PROTECTING THEM NOW AND ANTIMICROBIALS; A
ntimicrobial drugs are required for the treatment of bacterial infections in both animals and
humans. Antimicrobial resistance occurs when bacteria change their genes or get drug-resistant genes fromother bacteria.
WHY IS RESISTANCE A PROBLEM?
When bacteria develop resistance to antimicrobials, they can no longer be controlled by that antimicrobial or any other antimicrobials in the same category. Unfortunately, there have been no new types of antibiotics in decades, and there are no new drugs showing promise that they will be able to replace the current options.
WHAT ARE WE DOING TO HELP?
The British Equine Veterinary Association has issued guidelines on the appropriate use of antimicrobials; ProtectME. This guidance is aimed at vets and involves identifying categories of critically important antimicrobials and pledging to PROTECT them. This is an important step in preventing further antimicrobial resistance. By targeting appropriate use of antimicrobials for individual cases and NOT using themwhenever possible, we play an
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Always speak to your vet. • Some bacterial infections can be spread fromhorse to person and vice versa. These includeMRSA and Salmonella. Practicing good biosecurity and hand washing reduces the risk of transmission.
COMMON EXAMPLES OF WHEN ANTIMICROBIALS
ARE NOT REQUIRED. Antimicrobials can only treat bacterial infections; they do not work for the
treatment of viral diseases. Inmany cases, the horse’s immune systemcanmount
important role in ensuring their efficacy in the future, for both humans and animals alike.
WHAT CAN YOU DO TO HELP? •Work with your vet to ensure antimicrobials
are not used unless they are required. If fewer antimicrobials are prescribed, the development of resistance will slow, and we will protect our antimicrobials for the future.
• If your horse is prescribed a course of antimicrobials, ensure you complete the course at the correct dose and with the correct dosing frequency. Using antimicrobials at the correct dose, correct frequency and for the correct period of time reduces the risk of resistant pathogens developing.
• Never self-treat your horse with antimicrobials.
an appropriate immune response to fight the bacterial infection and resolve the disease. It is always appropriate to discuss individual cases with your vet, but here are a few examples of when antimicrobials are not routinely required: - • Foot abscess - abscess formation is the horse’s immune systemresponding to the presence of infection. Themost effective treatment is establishing drainage and keeping the tract clean
fromreinfection.Most horses will fully recover without the need for antimicrobials.
• Strangles – again, the formation of an abscess is the horse’s response to the infection. Although this is a highly emotive condition, antibiotics are rarely needed to treat strangles and will not improve recovery.
• Pyrexia of Unknown Origin (PUO) –many PUO cases are viral in nature. Provided the
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