Use of veterinary antiprotozoal products in the UK, 1998–2002

Antibacterial prescribing patterns in small animal veterinary practice identified via SAVSNET: the small animal veterinary surveillance network

“…Other classes reported by us included the lincosamides (9 per cent), fluoroquinolones and quinolones (6 per cent), nitroimidazoles (4 per cent), trimethoprim/sulphonamides (3 per cent) and tetracyclines (2 per cent). This compares with sales figures of antibacterials in the total animal population in the UK of 44 per cent tetracycline, 19 per cent β-lactam, 18 per cent trimethoprim/sulphonamides, 10 per cent macrolides, 5 per cent aminoglycoside, <1 per cent fluoroquinolones and quinolones and the remaining 5 per cent of other miscellaneous products (Goodyear 2010). Although it is not possible to break down these sales data by species, it is likely that since 87 per cent of the products sold are licensed only for food animals, the differences in classes largely reflect differences in antibacterials used in cats and dogs (this study) and food-producing animals.…”

“…The increasing development of antibacterial resistance in animals and human beings has led to legitimate concerns about antibacterial stewardship in these populations (Gould 2009, Charani and others 2010). Currently, there is limited data on the use of these products, in particular in companion animals, due to lack of quality survey data, which, when available, are usually confined to those based on sales figures (Goodyear 2010). While beneficial, this type of data have some limitations and may not always give information on the types of animals being dispensed individual products, their species, age or clinical presentation, or the combinations in which individual drugs are used.…”

“…The authors report antibacterial prescribing, which currently cannot be equated to amount of active ingredient (weight), because they have limited information on dose, frequency or duration. Equally, because of the high degree of weight variability within species like dogs, a conversion from tonnage of active ingredient sold, as reported by some national authorities (eg, Danmap 2009, Goodyear 2010), to a defined daily dose and the number of animals treated cannot easily be calculated. In future studies, it will be important to use dose, frequency and duration to allow more precise reflection of the total product prescribed.…”

“…Prescription of antibacterials for companion animals takes place at an individual practice level and therefore there is no central body collating data on prescriptions. The data available are from the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD), which publishes information on the overall tonnage of antibacterial products sold in the UK, and where possible, on the amounts sold for individual species (Goodyear 2010). In its latest report, 2009 sales of therapeutic antimicrobials totalled 402 tonnes (44 per cent tetracycline, 19 per cent β-lactam, 18 per cent trimethoprim/sulphonamides, 10 per cent macrolides, 5 per cent aminoglycoside, <1 per cent fluoroquinolone and the remaining 5 per cent of other miscellaneous products).…”