Wilson, Amie 
ORCID: 0000-0002-5987-180X, Mair, Tim, Williams, Nicola, McGowan, Catherine ORCID: 0000-0002-1946-9584 and Pinchbeck, Gina ORCID: 0000-0002-5671-8623
(2023)
Antimicrobial prescribing and antimicrobial resistance surveillance in equine practice
EQUINE VETERINARY JOURNAL, 55 (3).
pp. 494-505.
ISSN 0425-1644, 2042-3306
Abstract
Background: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is an increasingly serious threat to human and animal health, therefore responsible use of antimicrobials in equine practice is vital. There is a need to have accurate, up to date data on antimicrobial prescribing in equine practice in the UK. Objectives: To characterise current antimicrobial prescribing practices by equine veterinarians and to describe surveillance, audit processes and identification of AMR. Study design: Online cross-sectional, questionnaire-based survey. Methods: An online questionnaire targeting veterinarians who treat horses in the UK and Europe was distributed. The questionnaire collected data on participants' country of origin, practice policies, prescribing practices including use of high priority critical antimicrobials. Four common clinical case-based scenarios were included to further explore prescribing practice. Responses were compared using both descriptive statistics and multivariable logistic regression models. Results: Questionnaires were completed by 264 veterinarians from Europe (n = 33/264) and the UK (n = 231/264); 87% respondents worked only with horses and 67% worked at premises with hospitalisation facilities. Approximately half of respondents (54.4%) had a written antimicrobial use or stewardship policy within their practice. Over half of respondents did not perform any environmental surveillance (54.2%), audit of clinical infections (53.1%) or audit of infection control (57.1%). Potentiated sulphonamides were cited as the most used antimicrobial, although 44% reported using enrofloxacin in the last year and 66% used 3rd or 4th generation cephalosporins. Prophylactic antimicrobials before clean surgery were frequently/always prescribed by 48% respondents and 24% respondents frequently/always prescribed antimicrobials post-operatively in clean surgery. Main limitations: Potential selection bias of respondents, given individuals volunteered to take part in the survey. Conclusions: Compared with a previous similar study conducted in 2009, overall antimicrobial usage appeared to be declining in clinical scenarios and a greater proportion of practices now have stewardship policies. However, the use of high priority critical antimicrobials is still relatively common in equine practice in the UK and Europe.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | antimicrobial, horse, HPCIA, prescribing, protected, resistance |
| Divisions: | Faculty of Health & Life Sciences Faculty of Health & Life Sciences > Inst. Infection, Vet & Ecological Sciences |
| Depositing User: | Symplectic Admin |
| Date Deposited: | 13 Jun 2022 10:52 |
| Last Modified: | 16 Jun 2026 10:49 |
| DOI: | 10.1111/evj.13587 |
| Open Access URL: | https://beva.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/e... |
| Related Websites: | |
| URI: | https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3156203 |
| Disclaimer: | The University of Liverpool is not responsible for content contained on other websites from links within repository metadata. Please contact us if you notice anything that appears incorrect or inappropriate. |
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