Audit of antimicrobial use in eleven equine practices over a five‐year period (2014–2018). (19th December 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mair, T. S.; Parkin, T. D.
• Is Part Of: Equine veterinary education. Volume 34:Number 8(2022)
• Page Start: 404
• Page End: 408
• Publication Date: 2020-12-19
• Subjects: horse -- antimicrobials -- antimicrobial stewardship -- critically important antimicrobials; Horses -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Horses -- Diseases -- Treatment -- Periodicals; 636.108905
• DOI: 10.1111/eve.13438
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0957-7734

Abstract

Summary: Monitoring the use of antimicrobial drugs is an important component of antimicrobial stewardship. The objective of this clinical audit was to record the total annual quantities of different antimicrobial drugs prescribed in equine practices over a 5‐year period. Data on antimicrobial use were retrieved from the computerised practice management systems of 11 equine veterinary practices in the UK over the 5‐year period 2014–2018. There was a trend towards decreasing total quantities of antimicrobials prescribed each year from 2014 to 2018. Complete data for all 5 years were available in 6/11 practices. There was a 50% reduction in total antimicrobial usage between 2014 and 2018 in these practices, with a 38% reduction in enrofloxacin, a 95% reduction in ceftiofur and a 100% reduction in cefquinome usage between 2014 and 2018. As a proportion of the total quantities of antimicrobials prescribed, there were significant increases in the proportions of trimethoprim sulphadiazine and doxycycline used, and significant decreases in the proportion of cefquinome used between 2014 and 2018. The annual proportions of procaine penicillin use remained between 5 and 6% over the whole period. A limitation of the study was that data of the numbers and sizes of horses being prescribed the antimicrobials were not available. It was concluded that there was an overall decline in the quantities of antimicrobials prescribed by the 11 general equine practices over the time period of 2014 to 2018, including a reduction in the prescription of the critically important antimicrobials, enrofloxacin, ceftiofur and cefquinome.