European Antibiotic Awareness Day

Stark Message To Vets On Antibiotic Awareness Day, UK

To mark European Antibiotic Awareness Day 2010 the British Veterinary Association (BVA) is warning veterinary surgeons in the UK that failure to use antimicrobials responsibly could result in their use being restricted.

The BVA actively promotes the responsible use of antimicrobials and last year published a poster and guidance for vets: 'Responsible use of antimicrobials in veterinary practice: the 8-point plan'. The poster has received very positive feedback from across the UK and from the Federation of Veterinarians of Europe (FVE).

Concerns regarding resistance to antimicrobials and antibiotics span both the human and animal medicine fields and in 2008 the Chief Medical Officer called for a ban on the use of certain types of antibiotics in animals in order to protect their activity in humans.

Furthermore some EU Member States already restrict the availability of antimicrobials to veterinarians and adopt a strict formulary approach to the medicines that they can prescribe. The BVA is concerned that this trend will reach the UK and the freedom of vets to prescribe according to their clinical judgement will be restricted.

Commenting, Harvey Locke, President of the BVA, said:

"Antimicrobial resistance is an enormous problem for both human and animal health. As veterinary surgeons we have a duty to use these medicines responsibly for the good of animal health and welfare as well as public health.

"The BVA's poster on responsible use should be displayed in veterinary practices across the UK as a constant reminder, and I would urge all vets to refer to it.

"Failure to heed the message of responsible use could result in vets losing the right to prescribe certain medicines, which could have a significant impact on animal health and welfare.

"On Antibiotic Awareness Day our message to vets is clear: use them responsibly or lose them."

Notes

1. The BVA poster 'Responsible use of antimicrobials in veterinary practice: the 8-point plan' is available on the BVA website.

The BVA has also produced more detailed guidance to accompany the poster see here.

2. The BVA is a member of the RUMA Alliance (Responsible Use of Medicines in Agriculture) which promotes a co-ordinated and integrated approach to best practice in the use of medicines: see here.

Source:
British Veterinary Association