Antibiotic use in equine practice (2023)
Overview
Antibiotic resistance is possibly the most serious public health issue facing the world today. It is now well-documented that resistant bacteria can spread from animals to humans, creating increasing pressure to reduce antibiotic usage in veterinary practice.
Recent progress has been made in identifying when, why, and—crucially—how many antibiotics are being used in equine practice. However, there are still no widely agreed-upon standard reporting measures.
In equine medicine, the choice of antibiotics is limited, which increases reliance on some of the highest priority critically important antimicrobial agents.
This webinar will explore the indications for antibiotic use in horses, with a particular focus on perioperative administration. It will also examine the overall consumption of antibiotics in equine practice.
Finally, the session will highlight cefazolin, an “older” antibiotic recently made available, and widely recommended for perioperative use in human medicine. Cefazolin is classified as “highly important” rather than “critically important,” making it a more responsible choice for antibiotic stewardship compared to agents like ceftiofur or enrofloxacin.
Presenters
Dr. Bruce Bladon BVM&S Cert EP DESTS Dipl ECVS FRCVS
Bruce Bladon
Bruce graduated from the University of Edinburgh in 1988. After one year in mixed practice and three years in equine practice, he joined O’Gorman Slater and Main (as it was then) in 1992.
From 1995 to 1998, he undertook a Residency in Equine Surgery at the University of Bristol and then rejoined Donnington Grove Veterinary Surgery (as it is now known) as the principal equine surgeon.
Bruce has a strong interest in equine surgery, including arthroscopy, fracture repair, colic, and airway surgery. He has served as an equine surgeon at both the Rio Olympics and Hangzhou Asian Games, and is currently the President Elect of BEVA.
He also has an interest in diagnostic imaging, including MRI, scintigraphy, and radiology.
