University of Liverpool, School of Veterinary Science, Leahurst Campus, Chester High Road, Neston, CH64 7TE, UK.
Prev Vet Med. 2012 May 1;104(3-4):309-16. doi: 10.1016/j.prevetmed.2011.12.003. Epub 2012 Jan 4.
The increase in the prevalence of antimicrobial resistance has resulted in both human and veterinary antimicrobial use coming under increased scrutiny. The aim of this study was to characterise antimicrobial prescribing patterns in small-animal veterinary practices in the UK. A cross-sectional survey of UK small animal veterinarians was undertaken. A postal questionnaire to evaluate antimicrobial prescribing habits was sent to 900 clinicians. Data were collected on the clinicians, their practices and their sources of information regarding antimicrobials and their use. Respondents were asked if they would prescribe antimicrobials to animals described in four clinical scenarios, and, if so, to provide details of the prescription(s). Questionnaires were completed by 51% of the veterinarians. Only 3.5% of clinicians reported that their practice had an antimicrobial use policy. Penicillins were most commonly prescribed in three clinical scenarios, and 1st generation cephalosporins were most commonly prescribed in a scenario about canine pyoderma. In one scenario, fluoroquinolones and 3rd generation cephalosporins accounted for 10% and 13% of prescriptions respectively. Five percent of all prescriptions were under the recommended dose and 20% were over the recommended dose. Overall, 2.3% of prescriptions were not licensed for use in dogs or cats in the UK. Associations between the use of various antimicrobial drugs and independent variables were analysed using multivariable logistic regression models. Off-license prescriptions and inaccurate dosing of antimicrobials by small-animal clinicians in the UK appears to occur. Antimicrobial use guidelines are rare in small animal practice. The introduction of such guidelines has been shown to lead to more appropriate use of antimicrobials and is therefore recommended.
抗菌药物耐药性的增加导致人类和兽医抗菌药物的使用受到越来越多的审查。本研究旨在描述英国小动物兽医实践中的抗菌药物处方模式。对英国小动物兽医进行了横断面调查。向 900 名临床医生发送了一份评估抗菌药物处方习惯的邮寄问卷。收集了关于抗菌药物及其使用的临床医生、他们的实践和信息来源的数据。受访者被问及他们是否会为四个临床情况下的动物开抗菌药物，如果会，提供处方的详细信息。900 名兽医中有 51%的人填写了问卷。只有 3.5%的临床医生报告说他们的实践有抗菌药物使用政策。在三种临床情况下，最常开的是青霉素类药物，在一种关于犬脓皮病的情况下，最常开的是第一代头孢菌素类药物。在一种情况下，氟喹诺酮类和第三代头孢菌素类药物分别占处方的 10%和 13%。有 5%的处方剂量低于推荐剂量，20%的处方剂量超过推荐剂量。总的来说，在英国，所有处方中有 2.3%的处方未获得在犬或猫中使用的许可。使用各种抗菌药物与独立变量之间的关系使用多变量逻辑回归模型进行分析。英国的小动物临床医生开非许可处方和不准确的抗菌药物剂量的情况似乎时有发生。抗菌药物使用指南在小动物实践中很少见。已经证明，引入这样的指南可以导致更合理地使用抗菌药物，因此建议引入这些指南。
