Safeguarding Antibiotics: The Role of Veterinarian Technicians

Presentation Description / Summary: Antibiotic resistance is a complex problem that should be addressed through a One Health framework. The development of resistance to antibiotics is a global public and veterinary health crisis. Working in a multidisciplinary way is paramount to effectively address antibiotic resistance. If bacteria wins the battle, the lack of antibiotics to treat infections will negatively impact patient care and animal welfare, incurring a huge economic burden. The main driver for the emergence of resistance is the use and over-prescription of antibiotics. The implementation of antibiotic stewardship programs improves the use and decreases the over-prescription of antibiotics. The AVMA developed 5 core principles to be used by the veterinary care team to develop stewardship programs, these are: commit to stewardship, advocate for a system of care to prevent common diseases, judicious selection of antibiotics, evaluate antibiotic use practices, educate and build expertise. Veterinary technicians play a critical role with regards to infection prevention within the practice. Additionally, technicians must learn to communicate and educate animal owners on issues such as antibiotic use and resistance. Developing and implementing an antibiotic stewardship program must be approached as a team and veterinary technicians must play an intricate role for this to be successful.

Learner Outcomes: Learn about the issue of antibiotic resistance Learn about stweardship and the role of technicians Learn abouot the importance of client education