Antibiotic use discussed
At the recent BSAVA Congress, Ian Battersby discussed antibiotic resistance, and what can be done to slow down the process.
In his lecture - "Rational use of antibiotics" - he addressed the much-debated subject of resistance, and the responsibilities of the vet.
Addressing a busy lecture hall at the ICC in Birmingham, he said: "We are not in a crisis at the moment…there is a window to slow [resistance] down," in which the vet plays an important role.
Mr Battersby explained the risks of creating "a positive selection process for resistant bacteria." This, he added, occurs when multiple types of bacteria are unintentionally killed, thereby potentially allowing resistant bacteria to dominate.
In addressing this risk, he spoke of the importance of a practice infection control policy to monitor bugs effectively. The PROTECT poster, he says, is a useful tool for practices in achieving this.
Mr Battersby warned against using antibiotics "just in case" or as a substitute for proper hygiene practices during surgery. Using post-operative antibiotics, he added, is only appropriate in a few medical situations, and increases the risk of post-operative infection and multi-resistant bacteria.
Vets in practice, he said, should ask themselves at all times "am I using this drug appropriately?" By using topical antimicrobials where suitable, he added, it is possible to avoid accidental treatment of bowel bacteria, and as they enter the blood stream these can even work on resistant bacteria.
Developments in the treatment of human urinary tract infections (UTI) could be transferred to the veterinary industry, Mr Battersby continued. It was found that antibiotic courses for treating human UTIs could be reduced from 5-10 days to just 3 days with no detrimental effect.
Mr Battersby concluded his talk by saying that contrary to the opinions of some, antibiotic resistance is not inevitable, and vets have a significant role in slowing the process in time for the development of new drugs.
Veterinary practices are being urged to help owners safely dispose of any unused and expired pet medicines - not just antibiotics - during November's Animal Medicines Amnesty. 
