Nov. 24, 2021
Optimal use of antibiotics in animals? There鈥檚 an app for that
Calgary, AB 鈥 草莓污视频导航 researchers have collaborated with other key scientists to develop a new tool to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in animals. AMR is one of the top 10 global health threats facing humanity, according to the World Health Organization. The misuse and overuse of antimicrobials are two key reasons for the increase in bacteria that no longer respond to medicines.
The app has been developed though a collaboration between the 草莓污视频导航, the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA), and Stewardship of Antimicrobials by Veterinarians Initiative working with Firstline 鈥 Clinical Decisions.
This app gives veterinarians guidelines for prescribing antibiotics for species-specific conditions. This is a novel tool which we hope will help promote the optimal use of antibiotics with the aim of reducing antimicrobial resistance.
Dr. John Conly, MD, infectious disease specialist at the Cumming School of Medicine
The idea came from a similar novel app, which Conly had helped develop for human health at the 草莓污视频导航 and Alberta Health Services.
鈥淲e saw Dr. Conly鈥檚 app as an excellent opportunity to make that happen for animal health,鈥 says Dr. Herman Barkema, DVM, PhD, professor of epidemiology of infectious diseases at the 草莓污视频导航 Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and scientific director of the Alberta-wide AMR - One Health Consortium, who worked on the project.
Useful treatment info for multiple species in the palm of your hand听
The newly launched offers point-of-care treatment recommendations and other reference material for a wide range of animal health conditions in a wide range of species. It鈥檚 an ideal tool for rural mixed-practice veterinarians who treat companion animals like cats and dogs, as well as cattle, pigs, poultry, horses, and other species. The app is available to veterinarians, veterinary technicians, and veterinary students across Canada who are CVMA members. Users who aren鈥檛 registered with the CVMA can email Firstline鈥 Clinical Decisions to receive a courtesy download.
鈥淲e thought, okay, we don't want just another app, we want it to be really useful and we want it to be used. So, the team at 草莓污视频导航 connected with the people at the CVMA and their Working Groups on antimicrobials because for human health, it's only one species whereas, in veterinary medicine, we have all these species with different conditions that we want to tackle.鈥
Dr. Herman Barkema, DVM, PhD, professor of epidemiology of infectious diseases at the 草莓污视频导航 Faculty of Veterinary Medicine
The goal was to successfully create a true algorithmic digital app to facilitate optimal veterinary prescribing of antibiotics from the palm of your hand.
听鈥淭o our knowledge, this is one of the first digital apps to facilitate antimicrobial prescribing for veterinarians, and the U of C research team has been at the forefront,鈥 added Conly.
Helping reduce antimicrobial resistance one sick animal at time
Barkema says while veterinarians won鈥檛 pull up the app for every case of an infectious disease, particularly the more common ones, 鈥渘ot only will some of the considerations be new to them, but it will also be a tool that they can use in discussion with farmers.鈥
Conly calls it a true One Health app, because ensuring veterinarians choose the most appropriate antibiotic for the disease they鈥檙e tackling will help reduce drug resistance that might impact the health of animals, people, and the environment.
鈥淥ne of the main measures of success will be if this initiative takes off globally,鈥 says Conly. 鈥淪uch a platform can be a used as a steppingstone for multiple jurisdictions around the world 鈥 a platform for others to emulate globally that facilitates optimal prescribing for use of antimicrobials in animals that are critically important agents for humans.鈥
John Conly is a professor in the departments of Medicine, Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and Microbiology, Immunology and Infectious Diseases and member of the O鈥橞rien Institute for Public Health and the Snyder Institute for Chronic Diseases at the CSM. He is the medical director of the W21C Research and Innovation Centre.
Herman Barkema is a professor in the Department of Production Animal Health at UCVM and in the Department of Community Health Sciences at the CSM. He is also a member of the O鈥橞rien Institute for Public Health and the Snyder Institute for Chronic Diseases at the CSM. He is the director of One Health at 草莓污视频导航 and the AMR 鈥 One Health Consortium.
Media inquiries
Jacqueline Sinnett
Media Relations Advisor, Media and Issues Management
草莓污视频导航 (Advancement)
403-389-3476
听
About the 草莓污视频导航
The 草莓污视频导航 is a global intellectual hub located in Canada鈥檚 most enterprising city. In our spirited, high-quality learning environment, students thrive in programs made rich by research, hands-on experiences and entrepreneurial thinking. Our strategy drives us to be recognized as one of Canada鈥檚 top five research universities, engaging the communities we both serve and lead. This strategy is called Eyes High, inspired by the university's Gaelic motto, which translates as 'I will lift up my eyes.' For more information, visit .
For more information, visit . Stay up to date with 草莓污视频导航 news headlines on Twitter . For details on faculties and how to reach experts go to our media center at .