Implication of the knowledge and perceptions of veterinary students of antimicrobial resistance for future prescription of antimicrobials in animal health, South Africa

Abstract

Understanding the knowledge and perceptions of veterinary students of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) as potential future prescribers of antimicrobials may serve as an opportunity to improve stewardship of AMR. Pre-final (n = 42) and final (n = 29) year veterinary students of the University of Pretoria completed questionnaires to determine their knowledge and perceptions of AMR. Of the 71 respondents, mixed practice (48%) and small animal practice (45%) were the most preferred career choices post-graduation, with the field of gross pathology being the least preferred. Over 80% of the respondents believed that veterinary practitioners’ misuse of antimicrobials contributes to AMR and a higher percentage (98.6%) believed that farmers’ misuse of antimicrobials encourages the development of AMR, in particular, in food animals (60.6%) compared to companion animals (50.7%). Agreement in the ranking of abuse of antimicrobials between pre-final and final year students was fair (36.4%; kappa 0.3), and the most abused antimicrobials in descending order listed by the students were tetracyclines, penicillins, sulphonamides and aminoglycosides. There was wide disparity between training and potential field application, as well as variations in the correct matching of antimicrobials to their respective antibiotic classes. Responses to the clinical application of antimicrobials also varied widely. Despite the apparent teaching of AMR to veterinary students, gaps may exist in the translation of theoretical concepts to clinical applications, hence the need for focused and targeted antimicrobial prescription and stewardship training to bridge these potential identified gaps.

Knowledge of Antimicrobial Resistance among Veterinary Students and Their Personal Antibiotic Use Practices: A National Cross-Sectional Survey

“…Hence, resource allocations available to combat AMR in Nigeria have wide discrepancies with consequences of threatened food security in addition to an increased AMR challenge. There is a need to understand the current knowledge and propose means to bridge the existing gap on the trend, status, and situation of AMR arising primarily from food animals and the environment [8,9].…”

“…Specifically, veterinarians are very important stakeholders and play a vital role in the mitigation of AMR [8,[19][20][21]. The education, awareness, and training of veterinary students is vital to the improvement of antimicrobial use patterns in farms, clinics, and hospitals as well as in many animal species [8]. Veterinary students are future prescribers and their knowledge could influence progress in combating AMR [8].…”

“…The education, awareness, and training of veterinary students is vital to the improvement of antimicrobial use patterns in farms, clinics, and hospitals as well as in many animal species [8]. Veterinary students are future prescribers and their knowledge could influence progress in combating AMR [8]. Inadequate exposure of veterinary students to the concept of AMR could affect their practice of drug administration and management after graduation [22][23][24].…”

“…Inadequate exposure of veterinary students to the concept of AMR could affect their practice of drug administration and management after graduation [22][23][24]. Satisfactory knowledge levels of veterinary students on personal antibiotic administration (self-consumption), in addition to their perceptions, attitude, and knowledge of AMR could enhance their practice behaviors [8,25].…”

The Current Status of the Alternative Use to Antibiotics in Poultry Production: An African Perspective

“…The development of antibiotic resistance in Campylobacter jejuni is likely to be influenced by using antibiotic in both healthy and sick animals in poultry farms [ 27 ]. According to a study conducted by Smith et al, the veterinary students in South Africa perceived tetracycline, penicillin and sulphonamides to be the most abused antimicrobials [ 28 ]. Bester and Essack reported that tetracycline usage in South African animals’ production system is common [ 29 ].…”