Antimicrobial prescribing patterns in small animal practice in Montevideo

Abstract

Antimicrobial (ATM) therapy attempts to eliminate or inhibit the growth of infectious agents, trying not to damage the host’s cells. Good prescription practices and rational use of these drugs are crucial to avoid the appearance of resistance and therapeutic failures. The aim of this work was to evaluate how veterinary professionals dedicated to small animal practice use and pres­cribe antimicrobial drugs in Montevideo. Personal interviews to veterinary professionals (n = 50) were made about their prescri­bing patterns of the main antimicrobial drugs used in their daily clinical practice. All information received was kept anonymous. Interviews were made in a traditional printed format. Descrip­tive statistics were made. Results about the knowledge of the use and prescription of ATM patterns, the use of empirical treat­ments and the physiological/pathological parameters veterinary professionals dedicated to small animals clinical practice take into account before prescription were obtained.