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. 2018 Sep 26:7:100038.
doi: 10.1016/j.vas.2018.09.002. eCollection 2019 Jun.

Antimicrobial use practices of veterinary clinicians at a veterinary teaching hospital in the United States

John Eddie Ekakoro  1 , Chika C Okafor  1
Affiliations

Antimicrobial use practices of veterinary clinicians at a veterinary teaching hospital in the United States

John Eddie Ekakoro et al. Vet Anim Sci. .

Abstract

Indiscriminate antimicrobial use (AMU) is a factor contributing to antimicrobial resistance (AMR). The objectives of this study were to (1) identify factors influencing AMU practices of veterinary clinicians at The University of Tennessee Veterinary Medical Center (UTVMC), (2) analyze the clinicians' preferential choices of antimicrobials, and (3) evaluate their perceptions, opinions, and concerns regarding AMU and AMR. A total of 121 clinicians were surveyed. Among the 62 respondents, culture and susceptibility test results and pressure from clients were the most and least important factors in their antimicrobial prescription decision-making, respectively. Compared to clinicians who obtained their veterinary degree from 1970 to 1999, those who graduated from 2000 to 2009 and 2010-2016 were 3.96 (P = 0.034) and 5.39 (P = 0.01) times less concerned about AMR, respectively. There is a critical need to increase awareness about judicious AMU practices among clinicians, increase emphasis about AMR in the present veterinary curriculum, and implement antimicrobial stewardship program (AMS) in this institution. Educational activities in combination with awareness campaigns and the stewardship programs could be used to improve AMU practices at this hospital. More client education on AMR is needed.

Keywords: Antimicrobial resistance; Antimicrobial stewardship; Ordinal logistic regression; Questionnaire; Survey.

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Figures

Fig 1
Fig. 1
Distribution of factors that influence the initiation and the choice of antimicrobials used by clinicians at the University of Tennessee Veterinary Medical Center, 2017 (n = 62).
Fig 2
Fig. 2
Distribution of sources of information influencing the choice of antimicrobials used by clinicians at the University of Tennessee Veterinary Medical Center, 2017 (n = 62).
Fig 3
Fig. 3
Self-reported antimicrobial prescription practices of clinicians at the University of Tennessee Veterinary Medical Center, 2017 (n = 62).
Fig 4
Fig. 4
Self-reported antimicrobial prescription practices for surgical prophylaxis by clinicians at the University of Tennessee Veterinary Medical Center, 2017 (n = 62).
Fig 5
Fig. 5
Self-reported level of familiarity with Veterinarian Client Patient Relationship by clinicians at the University of Tennessee Veterinary Medical Center, 2017 (n = 62).
Fig 6
Fig. 6
Self-reported use of Veterinarian Client Patient Relationship in antimicrobial prescription practice by clinicians at the University of Tennessee Veterinary Medical Center, 2017 (n = 62).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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