A randomised controlled trial to reduce highest priority critically important antimicrobial prescription in companion animals



Singleton, David A ORCID: 0000-0002-1980-5410, Rayner, Angela, Brant, Bethaney, Smyth, Steven, Noble, Peter-John M, Radford, Alan D ORCID: 0000-0002-4590-1334 and Pinchbeck, Gina L ORCID: 0000-0002-5671-8623
(2021) A randomised controlled trial to reduce highest priority critically important antimicrobial prescription in companion animals. Nature Communications, 12 (1). 1593-.

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Abstract

<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title><jats:p>Robust evidence supporting strategies for companion animal antimicrobial stewardship is limited, despite frequent prescription of highest priority critically important antimicrobials (HPCIA). Here we describe a randomised controlled trial where electronic prescription data were utilised (August 2018–January 2019) to identify above average HPCIA-prescribing practices (<jats:italic>n</jats:italic> = 60), which were randomly assigned into a control group (CG) and two intervention groups. In March 2019, the light intervention group (LIG) and heavy intervention group (HIG) were notified of their above average status, and were provided with educational material (LIG, HIG), in-depth benchmarking (HIG), and follow-up meetings (HIG). Following notification, follow-up monitoring lasted for eight months (April–November 2019; post-intervention period) for all intervention groups, though HIG practices were able to access further support (i.e., follow-up meetings) for the first six of these months if requested. Post-intervention, in the HIG a 23.5% and 39.0% reduction in canine (0.5% of total consultations, 95% confidence interval, 0.4-0.6, <jats:italic>P</jats:italic> = 0.04) and feline (4.4%, 3.4-5.3, <jats:italic>P</jats:italic> &lt; 0.001) HPCIA-prescribing consultations was observed, compared to the CG (dogs: 0.6%, 0.5-0.8; cats: 7.4%, 6.0-8.7). The LIG was associated with a 16.7% reduction in feline HPCIA prescription (6.1% of total consultations, 5.3-7.0, <jats:italic>P</jats:italic> = 0.03). Therefore, in this trial we have demonstrated effective strategies for reducing veterinary HPCIA prescription.</jats:p>

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: Animals, Dogs, Cats, Veterinary Drugs, Anti-Bacterial Agents, Drug Resistance, Bacterial, Female, Male, Electronic Prescribing, Electronic Health Records, Pets, Practice Patterns, Physicians', Antimicrobial Stewardship
Divisions: Faculty of Health and Life Sciences
Faculty of Health and Life Sciences > Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences
Depositing User: Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited: 15 Mar 2021 11:31
Last Modified: 18 Jan 2023 22:56
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-21864-3
Open Access URL: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-21864-3
Related URLs:
URI: https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3117353