Antimicrobial Use in Companion Animals: Assessing Veterinarians' Prescription Patterns through the First National Survey in Chile

Abstract

Although the relationship between the use of antimicrobials and the development of resistant bacteria is well established, information about the use of antimicrobials in companion animals has been poorly described, which represents a risk to public health. The aim of this study was to describe the antimicrobial prescription patterns of Chilean companion animal veterinarians. A nationally distributed survey targeted at companion animal veterinarians was designed. The survey included questions about the veterinarian's demographics, bacterial diseases treated, prescribed antimicrobials, and the use of laboratory diagnostic tools. Three hundred twenty-three responses were collected, most of the respondents were female (59.4%). The most frequently reported bacterial diseases were pyoderma (17.2%), followed by otitis and abscesses (7.4%). The antimicrobials most used corresponded with critically or highly important drugs for veterinary and human use, including β-lactams (65.3%), quinolones (36.2%) and tetracyclines (23.2%). Only 15% of the veterinarians reported the use of laboratory diagnostic tests, although 67% declared they were aware of the official antimicrobial classification schemes. Our results describe for the first time the usage of antimicrobials by veterinarian practitioners in Chile to treat different diseases in companion animals. The data presented here provide a baseline that could help to promote the implementation of clinical guidelines and regulations in order to improve current treatments.

Keywords: antimicrobial resistance; antimicrobial use; companion animals.

Figure 1

Prevalence of survey respondents who had used antimicrobial agents from each class in the previous 2 months (n = 323).

Figure 2

Antibiotics prescribed as first and second treatment options by respondents (n = 859). AMC, amoxicillin + clavulanic acid; ENR, enrofloxacin; DOX, doxycycline; CFR, cefadroxil; AMX, amoxicillin; MTZ, metronidazole; SXT, sulfamethoxazole + trimethoprim; LEX, cephalexin; GEN, gentamicin; PEN, penicillin; CLI, clindamycin; CIP, ciprofloxacin; CFZ, cefazolin; SPI/MTZ, spiramycin + metronidazole; CRO, ceftriaxone; AMP, ampicillin; PMB, polymyxin B; CFO, cefovecin; TOB, tobramycin; PRA, pradofloxacin; MUP, mupirocin; SPI, spiramycin; PEN/STR, penicillin + streptomycin; OXY, oxytetracycline; NEO, neomycin; PST/SGD, phthalylsulfathiazole + sulfaguanidine; TET, tetracycline; STR, streptomycin; NOR, norfloxacin; NIT, nitrofurantoin; CHL, chloramphenicol; CAZ, ceftazidime; BAC/NEO, bacitracin + neomycin; AZM, azithromycin.

Figure 3

Antibiotics prescribed as first and second treatment options for different diseases reported by respondents (n = 853). AMC, amoxicillin + clavulanic acid; DOX, doxycycline; ENR, enrofloxacin; AMX, amoxicillin; AMP, ampicillin; CFR, cefadroxil; LEX, cephalexin; GEN, gentamicin; CIP, ciprofloxacin; PMB, polymyxin B; TOB, tobramycin; PEN, penicillin; SPI/MTZ, spiramycin + metronidazole; MTZ, metronidazole; SPI, spiramycin; SXT, sulfamethoxazole + trimethoprim; CFZ, cefazolin; CLI, clindamycin.

Figure 4

Use of laboratory diagnostic tests for diseases reported and treated by respondents (n = 740).