Comparison of metrics to assess antibiotic use in small ruminants at a university referral clinic between 2005 and 2019

Abstract

BackgroundMonitoring antibiotic use is essential to provide a framework enabling veterinarians to use antibiotics prudently.MethodsElectronic medical records from the University of Veterinary Medicine's Clinic for Ruminants in Vienna were analysed with respect to sheep and goat antibiotic doses administered over a 15‐year period (2005–2019). Antibiotic use was assessed using total milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg), total milligrams, number of doses administered, defined daily doses (DDD) for cattle and estimated DDD for sheep.ResultsA total of 5113 antibiotic doses were recorded over the 15‐year period. Urinary tract disorders required the highest number of doses administered per animal (mean 16.9; median 16.0). Antibiotic use patterns varied according to the metrics used for analysis. By mg/kg, the largest proportion of antibiotics administered were penicillin/streptomycin (43.0% of the total mg/kg), followed by tetracyclines (17.3%) and sulphonamide/trimethoprim combinations (15.2%). By number of doses administered, the most frequently used antibiotics were penicillins (excluding combinations with streptomycin) (33.9% of total number of doses administered), fluoroquinolones (25.1%), third/fourth‐generation cephalosporins (13.6%) and penicillin/streptomycin (13.4%).LimitationsAs the university clinic was a city‐based referral centre, this analysis cannot be compared directly with antibiotic use in commercial herds or flocks.ConclusionsThe considered choice of antibiotic use metrics is essential for an effective and meaningful analysis of the responsible use of antibiotics by veterinarians in practice.

Challenges and Obstacles for Veterinary Antimicrobial Agents’ Data Collection for an “One Health” European Goal to Address Antimicrobial Resistances

“…For example, Greece, Cyprus, and Bulgaria have high figures in antibiotic sales and a higher component of sheep and goat production (60%, 35%, and 26% of total PCU in "sheep and goats", respectively); they are simultaneously the three countries that report the flaw of the PCU as a metric, since it does not include living goats, creating an error in reporting. This is highlighted by the fact that small ruminants are often treated "off-label" because the existence of antimicrobial agents specific to these species is not common [11]. A possible type of under-reporting that has been identified but is not considered as such in the reports originates in the legislation of some countries themselves.…”

“…For example, Cyprus reports that if living goats had been included in the PCU, total annual sales in mg/PCU would have been approximately 7% lower in 2021 [9]. Studies report the necessity of updating the PCU metric even in species already included fully [11,12], and others suggest the adoption of other metrics [13].…”