Antibiotic resistance has been in the news. Think about the responsibilities that veterinary professionals have to prevent the development of antibiotic resistance. What considerations are there in administering a course of antibiotic treatment for an animal? What is appropriate in terms of follow-up protocols during antibiotic treatment?

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Some suggested ways to avoid antibiotic resistance in animals include educating clients about the misuse of antibiotics that may lead to resistance. Some things clients can to do help the situation are not to demand antibiotics for their animals; never use antibiotics unless they are prescribed by the veterinarian; and when given antibiotics, give them to the animal exactly as prescribed and complete the full course of treatment, continue giving the antibiotic even after the animal starts to feel well, and avoid hoarding pills for later use.

Veterinary staff and veterinarians can help control the development of antibiotic
resistance by washing their hands thoroughly between animal examinations and by not giving in to clients' demands for unneeded antibiotics. When possible, use antibiotics that target only a narrow range of bacteria, isolate animal patients in the clinic with infectious diseases (especially multidrug-resistant infections), and familiarize yourself with local data on antibiotic resistance.