The American Veterinary Medical Association board of directors has approved policy revisions on the judicious therapeutic use of antimicrobials.
The AVMA’s Committee on Antimicrobials recommended better alignment with the third core principle of antimicrobial stewardship in veterinary medicine: “Select and use antimicrobial drugs judiciously.”
The revised policy states, “Antimicrobial stewardship refers to the actions veterinarians take individually and as a profession to preserve the effectiveness and availability of antimicrobial drugs through conscientious oversight and responsible medical decision-making while safeguarding animal, public and environmental health.
“Management and prevention strategies should be employed to minimize the need for antimicrobial drugs. Judicious therapeutic use of antimicrobials is a core principle of the broader goal of antimicrobial stewardship. In accordance with the FDA, therapeutic uses are associated with the prevention, control and treatment of specific diseases that are necessary for assuring the health of animals.”
The board of directors, meeting during the AVMA’s recent convention, also endorsed a joint statement by the American Association of Bovine Practitioners and the Academy of Veterinary Consultants regarding the therapeutic use of medically important antimicrobials in cattle.
The board further expanded the general judicious use policy with the following principles:
- Maintain veterinary oversight by establishing a veterinarian-client-patient relationship.
- Identify barriers to appropriate antimicrobial prescribing and usage.
- Use an evidence-based approach when making a diagnosis and determining whether an antimicrobial is necessary.
- Select an appropriate antimicrobial drug regimen.
- Refer to relevant veterinary medical guidelines for judicious therapeutic use.
- Monitor the outcomes of antimicrobial use.
- Ensure antimicrobials are properly handled.
The Committee on Antimicrobials also proposed wording changes for the Judicious Therapeutic Use of Antimicrobials in Aquatic Animal Medicine policy. They include:
- “Develop biosecurity plans based on risks of pathogen introduction and transmission, especially if the captive population shares water sources with wild populations.”
- “Make a thorough assessment to identify root causes and develop appropriate mitigation measures to address predisposing factors when disease incidence increases.”
The changes were proposed to make the statement more relevant, clear and concise.