Small Talk - Spring 2019

As veterinarians we rely on antibiotics to treat bacterial infections but, with their repeated use, bacteria can evolve to become resistant. This means that we need to create new antibiotics to fight what are now being termed ‘superbugs’. How can we help prevent this? Resistant bacteria multiply and circulate between humans and animals which means it’s the responsibility of every one of us to avoid antibiotic misuse and help minimise resistance. This ensures antibiotics are still effective when they are needed the most and the veterinary profession as a whole is committed to correct prescribing. This involves using the appropriateantibiotic only when and whereit is needed. Keep in mind that antibiotics might not be appropriate for your pet’s issue Antibiotics only work against bacterial infections because the drug only targets bacterial cells. Diseases caused by other microorganisms, for instance, viral infections, cannot be cured with them. Also some infections may not necessarily need antibiotics, for example skin wounds can often be effectively treated with appropriate cleaning and management. Therapies such as topical honey are becoming more popular and are very effective. Don’t use antibiotics that were not prescribed for your pet This includes both using antibiotics prescribed to someone else as well as re-using old antibiotics you might still have with you. There are many types of antibiotics with different uses, and they might not be appropriate for your pet’s current issue. Furthermore, certain compounds are toxic to some species, and you could be giving them something harmful. Carefully follow treatment duration Even though your pet might be feeling better after a while, it’s crucial that you give them the full course of antibiotics as prescribed by your vet. Not completing the course will often not resolve the infection and leave resistant bacteria in your pet’s body, making it harder to treat. Don’t change the dosage on your own Increasing the dosage will not make antibiotics work any better or reduce the duration of the treatment. If you feel your pet is not getting better when they should, don’t take treatment into your own hands. Instead, it’s better to talk to your vet about your concerns, and they will do further tests to evaluate the need to change the dosage, duration or even the type of antibiotic. And don’t forget... prevention is the best medicine! The less we have to use antibiotics, the more we can avoid bacteria developing a resistance to them. Antibiotic Advice Recently the Government declared that drug-resistant super bugs are as big a threat to humanity as climate change. This announcement was given as a new five–year plan to tackle the problem was unveiled. As part of this, there has been a commitment to reduce antibiotic use in animals by 25%, from the 2016 levels, by next year. The problem? We can’t create antibiotics at a fast enough rate to beat bacterial resistance, and so, infections we once considered easy to treat may become a significant health issue.