Your Clinic Might Be Contributing to the Next Superbug

Subtle but common practices in veterinary clinics may be contributing to the emergence of multidrug-resistant organisms. Empirical use of Schedule H1 antibiotics, such as fluoroquinolones and third-generation cephalosporins, without bacterial culture or confirmation, is one of the primary contributors.

Practice Gap: A survey in Indian urban clinics (2023) showed that fluoroquinolones were the first-line treatment for canine pyrexia in over 60% of cases, with no diagnostic support.

The excessive use of antibiotics can lead to the development of resistance in pathogens such as E. coli and Staphylococcus pseudintermedius. Additionally, this overreliance on antibiotics may elevate the risk of transmission of these resistant strains from animals to humans, known as zoonotic transmission.

Recommendation: Clinics should implement periodic audits, maintain antibiotic logs, and train staff in AMR prevention as part of a clinic-wide antimicrobial stewardship plan.

References:

1. Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission, 2018
2. OIE Standards on AMR, 2021
3. Mateus A et al. Prev Vet Med. 2011