190 Higher perceived risks of antimicrobial use are related to lower usage among pig farmers in four European countries (Research paper – Visschers, 2016)

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190 Research paper – Visschers – 2016 – Higher perceived risks of antimicrobial use are related to lower usage among pig farmers in four European countries

In Significant Impact Groups: Prudent use AB \ Farmer; AMU reduction strategies
Species targeted: Pigs;
Age: Young; Adult;
Summary:
It is important to understand pig farmers’ motivators and the barriers to antimicrobial usage (AMU) on their farms. Pig farmers’ self-estimated levels of AMU, their perceived benefits, risks and the need for antimicrobials were studied in a cross-sectional survey in Belgium, France, Germany and Sweden. These perceptions were compared between the four countries and related them to pig farmers’ actual AMU. Results showed that farmers using more antimicrobials also estimated their own usage as higher. Farmers perceived many benefits but few risks of AMU in pig farming. Some significant cross-country differences in farmers’ perceptions were found, but they were relatively small. Country differences as well as perceived risks of antimicrobials served to predict farmers’ actual AMU. Promoting prudent AMU should focus on the structural differences in pig farming and veterinary medicine among countries. In addition, interventions aiming at reducing AMU should increase farmers’ awareness of the risks of extensive AMU.

Where to find the original material: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27553605; https://doi.org/10.1136/vr.103844
Country: BE; SE; CH; FR; DE

189 Perceptions of antimicrobial usage antimicrobial resistance and policy measures to reduce antimicrobial usage (Research paper – Visschers, 2015)

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189 Research paper – Visschers – 2015 – Perceptions of antimicrobial usage antimicrobial resistance and policy measures to reduce antimicrobial usage

In Significant Impact Groups: Prudent use AB \ Farmer; AMU reduction strategies
Species targeted: Pigs;
Age: Young; Adult;
Summary:
A survey of pig farmers (N = 281) was performed in Belgium, France, Germany, Sweden and Switzerland. Generally, farmers perceived their own antimicrobial usage as lower than that of their fellow countrymen and lower than or similar to that of farmers from other countries. Farmers were significantly more worried about financial/legal issues than about antimicrobial resistance. Further, farmers who worried about antimicrobial resistance and estimated their antimicrobial usage as lower than their fellow countrymen, perceived more impact from policy measures on antimicrobial reduction. Results indicated that the same policy measures can be applied to reduce antimicrobial usage in pig farming in all five countries. Moreover, increasing pig farmers’ awareness of the threat of antimicrobial resistance and its relation to antimicrobial usage is worth investing into; not only because pig farmers were not worried about antimicrobial usage but also because it affected farmers’ perception of policy measures to reduce antimicrobial usage.

Where to find the original material: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25684036; http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.prevetmed.2015.01.018
Country: SE; CH; BE; DE; FR

186 Scoring biosecurity in European conventional broiler production (Research paper – Van Limbergen, 2018)

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186 Research paper – Van Limbergen – 2018 – Scoring biosecurity in European conventional broiler production

In Significant Impact Groups: Biosecurity
Species targeted: Poultry;
Age: Young; Adult;
Summary:
The aim of this study was to measure biosecurity on conventional broiler farms in Europe, following a standardized procedure, and identify factors that can be improved. The current study used a risk-based weighted scoring system to assess the level of biosecurity on 399 conventional broiler farms in 5 EU member states. A possible relation between biosecurity and farm characteristics was investigated. The participating broiler farms scored better for internal biosecurity than for external biosecurity. There was variation between biosecurity scores for the different member states. Within external biosecurity, the subcategory related to “infrastructure and vectors” had the highest score, while the subcategory “visitors and staff” had the lowest. Within internal biosecurity, the subcategory “disease management” had the highest score. Internal biosecurity was inversely related to the number of employees and farm size. Results show better education of broiler farmers and their staff may help to improve biosecurity on broiler farms.

Where to find the original material: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29077940; http://dx.doi.org/10.3382/ps/pex296
Country: BE; FI; ES; PL; CY

185 Quantitative and qualitative antimicrobial usage patterns infarrow-to-finish pig herds in Belgium France Germany and Sweden (Research paper – Sjolund, 2016)

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185 Research paper – Sjolund – 2016 – Quantitative and qualitative antimicrobial usage patterns infarrow-to-finish pig herds in Belgium France Germany and Sweden

In Significant Impact Groups: AMU reduction strategies \ Monitoring and surveillance; Antibiotic use
Species targeted: Pigs;
Age: Young; Adult;
Summary:
The aim of this study was to compare antimicrobial usage for pigs by age category, antimicrobial class and administration route for farrow-to-finish herds in four EU countries. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 227 farrow-to-finish pig herds in Belgium, France, Germany and Sweden. The Swedish herds had the lowest and the German herds the highest overall use. Most treatments were applied to weaned piglets except in the Swedish herds (with more frequent treatment of suckling piglets). Antimicrobials were most often applied through feed or water except in the Swedish herds where parenteral treatments were most frequent. Aminopenicillins was the antimicrobial class most commonly used. Belgian herd use of third and fourth generation cephalosporins was higher compared to the other countries. In summary, there were large differences in antimicrobial use for pigs between countries, herds and age groups in farrow-to-finish herds of similar size.

Where to find the original material: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27435645; http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.prevetmed.2016.06.003
Country: BE; SE; FR; DE; CH

184 GLOBAL REPOSITORY OF AVAILABLE GUIDELINES FOR RESPONSIBLE USE OF ANTIMICROBIALS IN ANIMAL HEALTH by World Veterinary Association and OIE (Industry Innovation)

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184 Industry Innovation – GLOBAL REPOSITORY OF AVAILABLE GUIDELINES FOR RESPONSIBLE USE OF ANTIMICROBIALS IN ANIMAL HEALTH by World Veterinary Association and OIE

Prudent use AB \ Veterinarian; AMU reduction strategies
Species targeted: Pigs; Poultry; Dairy; Beef; Sheep; Other;
Age: Different for different species;
Summary:
In the context of promoting prudent use of antimicrobials under veterinary supervision, the World Veterinary Association (WVA) and the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) conducted in 2018 a survey in order to create a global repository of available guidelines for responsible use of antimicrobials in animal health. This resource contains a list of 120 guidelines, action plans and promotional material on prudent use of antimicrobials, covering large number of countries, languages, veterinary aspects and animal species. Access to these guidelines shall serve veterinarians and other health professionals to identify best practices for antimicrobials use in animal health and to fight the development of antimicrobial resistance.

Where to find the original material: http://worldvet.org/news.php?item=417;
Country: International

183 Antimicrobial prescribing guidelines for pigs by Australian Veterinary Association (Industry Innovation)

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183 Industry Innovation – Antimicrobial prescribing guidelines for pigs by Australian Veterinary Association

In Significant Impact Groups: Prudent use AB \ Veterinarian
Species targeted: Pigs;
Age: Different for different species;
Summary:
The Australian veterinary profession and livestock industries have a long history of addressing antimicrobial resistance (AMR). In particular, the veterinary profession has worked in close cooperation with animal industries and governments to implement the seven objectives of Australia’s First National Antimicrobial Resistance Strategy 2015-19 (National Strategy). The antimicrobial prescribing guidelines for pigs addresses the second objective of the National Strategy. This objective requires us to ‘implement effective antimicrobial stewardship practices across human health and animal care settings to ensure the appropriate and judicious prescribing, dispensing and administering of antimicrobials’. These guidelines for the Australian pig veterinarian are a handy ‘go-to’ resource, as they have been developed specifically for Australian conditions and contain the most contemporary knowledge available on AMR. One of the key objectives of any antimicrobial stewardship program is to reduce the use of antimicrobials.

Where to find the original material: https://www.ava.com.au/siteassets/resources/fighting-antimicrobial-resistance/antimicrobial-prescribing-guidelines-for-pigs.pdf;
Country: AU

182 Categorisation of antibiotics used in animals promotes responsible use to protect public and animal health by EMA (Tools & Checklists)

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182 ToolsChecklists – Categorisation of antibiotics used in animals promotes responsible use to protect public and animal health by EMA

In Significant Impact Groups: Prudent use AB \ Veterinarian
Species targeted: Pigs; Poultry; Dairy; Beef; Sheep;
Age:
Summary:
Veterinarians are encouraged to check and consider EMA’s updated scientific advice on the categorisation of antibiotics when prescribing these medicines for animals in their care. This categorisation can also be used as a tool for the preparation of treatment guidelines. The scientific advice ranks antibiotics by considering both the risk that their use in animals causes to public health through the possible development of antimicrobial resistance and the need to use them in veterinary medicine. The update takes into account the World Health Organization’s CIA list, i.e. those of most relevance for human health. The EMA also evaluated the impact of the route of administration on the selection of AMR and included its conclusions in a separate list to consider when prescribing antibiotics. The classification now comprises four categories, from A to D: Avoid, Restrict, Caution and Prudence.

Where to find the original material: https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/report/categorisation-antibiotics-european-union-answer-request-european-commission-updating-scientific_en.pdf;
Country: EU;

180 Sales of veterinary antimicrobial agents in 30 European countries in 2016. Trends from 2010 to 2016 8th ESVAC report by European Surveillance of Veterinary Antimic (Industry Innovation)

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180 Industry Innovation – Sales of veterinary antimicrobial agents in 30 European countries in 2016. Trends from 2010 to 2016 8th ESVAC report by European Surveillance of Veterinary Antimic

AMU reduction strategies \ Monitoring and surveillance Antibiotic use
Species targeted: Pigs; Poultry; Dairy; Beef; Sheep;
Age: Different for different species;
Summary:
The 8th ESVAC report presents data on the sales of veterinary antimicrobials from 30 European countries in 2016. The report describes changes in consumption of veterinary antimicrobials for the years 2010-2016 and focuses on the changes across time in each country. Explanations for the possible reasons for the changes in the various ESVAC participating countries have been provided. The Antimicrobial Advice ad hoc Expert Group (AMEG) categories take into account the World Health Organization (WHO) categorisation of antimicrobials, the consumption of those antimicrobials in veterinary medicine, the hazards of zoonotic relevance in Europe and the risk of resistance transfer to humans. Category 2 of the AMEG categorisation includes those veterinary antimicrobials where the risk for public health is estimated to be higher than other classes of antimicrobials – fluoroquinolones, 3rd- and 4th-generation cephalosporins and polymyxins. Macrolides are not included in Category 2 and a revision of the classification of AMEG is currently ongoing.

Where to find the original material: https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/report/sales-veterinary-antimicrobial-agents-30-european-countries-2016-trends-2010-2016-eighth-esvac_en.pdf;
Country: EU

176 Association between antimicrobial usage biosecurity measures as well as farm performance in German farrow-to-finish farms (Research paper – Raasch , 2018)

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176 Research paper – Raasch – 2018 – Association between antimicrobial usage biosecurity measures as well as farm performance in German farrow-to-finish farms

Biosecurity \ Pathogen management
Species targeted: Pigs;
Age: Young; Adult;
Summary:
In this study, comprising in 60 German farrow-to- finish herds, the variations of high and low usage the treatment incidence per age group were analyzed and linked to biosecurity measures, and herd management characteristics. Weaned pigs received most of the treatments followed by suckling pigs. Suckling pigs were very often treated with critically important antimicrobials. The number of sows and a low score for external biosecurity were associated with a higher antimicrobial usage in pigs from birth till slaughter. Herds with a higher treatment incidence in growing pigs: i) were located in a region with a high pig density ii) had less strict control for visitors and personnel and iii) had lower ‘cleaning and disinfection’ scores (internal biosecurity). Herds with a higher treatment incidence in breeding pigs weaned more piglets per sow and year and scored better in the internal biosecurity level

Where to find the original material: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30564434; https://doi.org/10.1186/s40813-018-0106-5
Country: DE; BE; CH

167 Evaluation of the relationship between the biosecurity status production parameters herd characteristics and antimicrobial usage in farrow-to-finish pig Research paper – Postma, 2016)

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167 Research paper – Postma – 2016 – Evaluation of the relationship between the biosecurity status production parameters herd characteristics and antimicrobial usage in farrow-to-finish pig

In Significant Impact Groups: Biosecurity \ Pathogen management
Species targeted: Pigs;
Age: Young; Adult;
Summary:
This study aimed at assessing possible associations between the biosecurity level, antimicrobial usage and farm and production characteristics in order to advice on best practices for a low antimicrobial usage and maximum animal health and production. A cross-sectional study was conducted in 227 farrow-to-finish pig herds in Belgium, France, Germany and Sweden between December 2012 and December 2013. Associations between biosecurity status, antimicrobial usage, and production parameters were evaluated. This study showed that the antimicrobial usage in breeding animals tends to be positively associated with the number of weaned piglets per sow per year and the antimicrobial usage from birth to slaughter (TI 200) in growing pigs. The TI 200 was lower in herds with a farrowing rhythm ≥5- weeks, a higher biosecurity status and tended to be lower with weaning of the piglets at an older age.

Where to find the original material: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28405435; https://doi.org/10.1186/s40813-016-0028-z
Country: BE; CH; FR; DE; SE; DK