TY - JOUR

T1 - Towards a Better and Harmonized Education in Antimicrobial Stewardship in European Veterinary Curricula

AU - Espinosa-Gongora, Carmen

AU - Jessen, Lisbeth Rem

AU - Dyar, Oliver James

AU - Bousquet-Melou, Alain

AU - González-Zorn, Bruno

AU - Pulcini, Céline

AU - Re, Giovanni

AU - Schwarz, Stefan

AU - Timofte, Dorina

AU - Toutain, Pierre-Louis

AU - Guardabassi, Luca

AU - The Prepare-Vet Working Group, null

AU - On Behalf Of Escmid Study Groups For Veterinary Microbiology Esgvm And For Antimicrobial Stewardship Esgvm, null

PY - 2021

Y1 - 2021

N2 - Education in antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) in veterinary medicine is essential to foster responsible antimicrobial use and control of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in animals. AMS is listed by the EU and international organizations among the basic 'Day One Competences' required of veterinary students upon graduation. Our aim was to evaluate the quality of education of European veterinary students in AMS. We distributed a 27-item survey addressing the perceptions of preparedness and acquired skills on key topics related to AMS to final-year veterinary students in Europe. We collected 3423 complete answers from 89 veterinary schools in 30 countries. Selection of treatment strategies and awareness of emerging AMR problems were markedly different between countries. Overall, only one in four students was familiar with guidelines for antimicrobial use. The students perceived a medium-high impact of veterinary antimicrobial use on AMR in humans. Notably, 75% of the students felt the need for improved teaching on AMS, half of which also demanded more teaching on general antimicrobial therapy. Our results highlight several possible strategies to improve the quality of education, ranging from a better link between clinical rotations and the theory taught in pre-clinical modules, to a more effective introduction into best practices for antimicrobial use.

AB - Education in antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) in veterinary medicine is essential to foster responsible antimicrobial use and control of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in animals. AMS is listed by the EU and international organizations among the basic 'Day One Competences' required of veterinary students upon graduation. Our aim was to evaluate the quality of education of European veterinary students in AMS. We distributed a 27-item survey addressing the perceptions of preparedness and acquired skills on key topics related to AMS to final-year veterinary students in Europe. We collected 3423 complete answers from 89 veterinary schools in 30 countries. Selection of treatment strategies and awareness of emerging AMR problems were markedly different between countries. Overall, only one in four students was familiar with guidelines for antimicrobial use. The students perceived a medium-high impact of veterinary antimicrobial use on AMR in humans. Notably, 75% of the students felt the need for improved teaching on AMS, half of which also demanded more teaching on general antimicrobial therapy. Our results highlight several possible strategies to improve the quality of education, ranging from a better link between clinical rotations and the theory taught in pre-clinical modules, to a more effective introduction into best practices for antimicrobial use.

U2 - 10.3390/antibiotics10040364

DO - 10.3390/antibiotics10040364

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 33808353

VL - 10

JO - Antibiotics

JF - Antibiotics

SN - 2079-6382

IS - 4

M1 - 364

ER -