Veterinary Antimicrobial Stewardship Guidelines

🐾 Veterinary Antimicrobial Stewardship Guidelines

Last updated: July 2025

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a serious threat to animal and human health. Veterinary professionals play a critical role in preserving the efficacy of antimicrobial agents through responsible use.

These guidelines provide a practical framework for implementing antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) in veterinary practice.

📌 1. General Principles of Antimicrobial Stewardship

Promote the judicious use of antimicrobials.
Prioritize preventive healthcare, including vaccination and biosecurity.
Use antimicrobials only when necessary and appropriate.
Choose antimicrobials based on culture and sensitivity testing when possible.
Follow evidence-based protocols and national guidelines.

🐶 2. Clinical Decision-Making

Before prescribing antimicrobials, veterinarians should:

Obtain a thorough history and physical exam.
Determine if the infection is bacterial, viral, or fungal.
Consider non-antimicrobial treatments when appropriate.
Use narrow-spectrum agents when possible.
Reassess therapy after 48–72 hours based on clinical response and diagnostics.

💊 3. Antimicrobial Use Categories

Use the traffic light system to guide decisions:

Green (First-Line): Safe, effective, minimal resistance risk.
Amber (Second-Line): Use when green drugs are ineffective.
Red (Last-Resort): Use only on culture-confirmed, life-threatening infections.

Refer to your country’s regulatory authority (e.g., EMA, FDA) for category-specific lists.

📋 4. Record Keeping & Monitoring

Document diagnosis, justification, drug name, dose, duration, and outcome.
Monitor and audit prescription patterns.
Report suspected adverse reactions or treatment failures.

🧼 5. Infection Prevention & Control (IPC)

Educate clients about hand hygiene, wound care, and disease transmission.
Apply isolation protocols for infectious animals.
Maintain clean and sanitized equipment and facilities.