2022 journal article

Veterinary antimicrobial prescribing practices for treatment of presumptive sporadic urinary tract infections in dogs examined at primary care practices in the United States (2010-2019)

JAVMA-JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN VETERINARY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION, 260, S21–S27.

MeSH headings : Amoxicillin / therapeutic use; Amoxicillin-Potassium Clavulanate Combination / therapeutic use; Animals; Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use; Dog Diseases / drug therapy; Dogs; Primary Health Care; United States; Urinary Tract Infections / drug therapy; Urinary Tract Infections / epidemiology; Urinary Tract Infections / veterinary
UN Sustainable Development Goal Categories
Source: Web Of Science
Added: June 13, 2022

Abstract OBJECTIVE To describe patterns of antimicrobial prescriptions for sporadic urinary tract infections (UTIs) in dogs in the United States from 2010 through 2019, including times before and after publication of International Society for Companion Animal Infectious Disease (ISCAID) guidelines. SAMPLE 461,244 qualifying visits for sporadic UTIs. PROCEDURES Veterinary electronic medical records of a private corporation consisting of > 1,000 clinics across the United States were examined to identify canine visits for potential sporadic UTI between January 1, 2010, and December 31, 2019. Proportions of antimicrobial prescriptions were graphed by month and year to identify changes in prescription patterns over time. Interrupted time series analysis was performed for the aminopenicillins. RESULTS A total of 461,244 qualifying visits were examined, with 389,949 (85%) of these resulting in at least 1 antimicrobial prescription. Over the 10-year period, the proportion of visits resulting in no antimicrobial prescription increased (14% in 2010 to 19.7% in 2019). Proportions of prescriptions for amoxicillin (38% to 48%) and amoxicillin–clavulanic acid (2.5% to 10%) also increased. Log-linear regression supported that changes in proportions of amoxicillin and amoxicillin–clavulanic acid prescriptions occurred following the 2011 ISCAID guidelines publication, with the proportion of amoxicillin prescriptions increasing by 13% per year (95% CI, 12% to 14%; P < 0.01) and the proportion of amoxicillin–clavulanic acid prescriptions increasing by 0.5% per year (95% CI, 0.2% to 0.8%; P < 0.01). Use of fluoroquinolones and third-generation cephalosporins remained constant. CLINICAL RELEVANCE Results suggest that efforts to guide antimicrobial use in veterinary clinical practice are having positive effects in this private veterinary company, though continued efforts are warranted.