Why is antimicrobial stewardship important in veterinary practice, and name a strategy to implement it.

• A. To reduce antimicrobial resistance and preserve efficacy; use culture and susceptibility testing to guide therapy and shorten broad-spectrum use
• B. To maximize antibiotic sales; use broad-spectrum therapy
• C. To follow owner demands; avoid testing
• D. To rotate antibiotics monthly regardless of culture

Answer: (A)

Antimicrobial stewardship in veterinary practice focuses on using antibiotics in a way that minimizes resistance and preserves their effectiveness for both animals and people. A key strategy to implement this is culture and susceptibility testing: when an infection is suspected, obtaining samples to identify the causative organism and testing its response to different antimicrobials lets you tailor therapy to the specific pathogen. This often lets you switch from broad-spectrum drugs to a targeted, narrow-spectrum option and can shorten the course of treatment, reducing unnecessary antibiotic exposure and the selective pressure that drives resistance.

Relying on maximizing sales, capitulating to owner demands without testing, or rotating antibiotics on a fixed schedule without culture data can lead to inappropriate use, poorer outcomes, and faster development of resistance.