What is antimicrobial resistance (AMR)?
When microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses and fungi are able to resist the effects of medicines designed to destroy or inactivate them, they are considered ‘antimicrobial resistant’. The mechanisms for this vary between microorganisms but one of the key factors influencing selection for these microorganisms is our use of antimicrobial agents.
What does AMR mean for veterinary practice?
When microorganisms become resistant, simple infections can become chronic, serious, or even life-threatening.
This leads to increased costs of veterinary care, more antimicrobial use, and a higher rate of treatment failure. More antimicrobial use leads to more selection pressure for resistance and a growing reliance on a shrinking group of effective antibiotics.
Current AMR examples:
Food-producing animals and AMR – Click here to read more…
Rhodococcus equi in horses – Click here to read more…
MRSP in Dogs – Click here to read more…
Visit the AMR Vet Collective website for:
Prescribing Support
- 5 Steps of Guideline-Based Prescribing
- Decision trees – visual quick reference guides
- Tips to help you talk to clients about AMR, including downloadable posters
Veterinary Prescribing Guidelines
Antimicrobial guidelines are a critical component of the antimicrobial stewardship program in your veterinary practice. The AMR Vet Collective have identified the current peer-reviewed guidelines relevant to Australia and New Zealand for each animal species.
Continuing Education
1. Diagnostic skills refreshers to help optimise your decision making
Quick and simple in-house diagnostics are super helpful to guide immediate decisions around the use and selection of antimicrobials.
2. Online Vet AMS Course
A comprehensive Australian and New Zealand online course in veterinary antimicrobial stewardship, created for people like you!
Antimicrobial stewardship – Your practice
The way antimicrobials are prescribed is linked to clinical processes and practice culture.
Antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) is a coherent set of actions that promote the use of antimicrobials in ways that ensure sustainable access to effective therapy for ALL who need them.