The 8th of November saw the launch of the annual VARSS (Veterinary Antimicrobials Resistance Sales and Surveillance) report.
As usual this is a wonderfully detailed and thoroughly compiled report which is worth a read. Perhaps two things are highlighted by the report: Firstly, that the average use of antimicrobials in food producing animals is 28.3 mg of antimicrobial per kilogram of livestock, the lowest it has ever been. The use of antimicrobials has dropped by over 50% since the report’s inception in 2014. The second thing highlighted by the report is how far ahead farm animal practice is compared to equine practice, both in terms of monitoring antibiotic usage and reducing it. This is increasingly important.
Regardless of the rights or wrongs of antimicrobial resistance in horses spreading to humans, if we aren't seen to act ourselves we must expect increasing restrictions on our use of antimicrobials. BEVA continues to actively encourage attempts to monitor antimicrobial use in equine practice and to encourage wise antimicrobial stewardship.
Please join what promises to be an excellent webinar with Bruce Bladon, Victoria Southgate, Bettina Dunkel and Victoria Southgate on Thursday, the 24th of November, as BEVA's contribution to World Antimicrobial Awareness Week.