AI Article Synopsis

  • In Australia, a study aimed to establish guidelines for using high importance antimicrobials (essential for human health) in animals, relying on expert opinions gathered through the Delphi method of consensus-building.
  • The study involved three rounds of online surveys, achieving consensus on eight key items, including the necessity of documenting the rationale for prescribing these antimicrobials in animals.
  • It remains unclear when these antimicrobials can be used for critically ill animals without culture tests, and there’s a need for guidelines on which organization should be informed about their off-label use in animals.

Article Abstract

In Australia, antimicrobials are given an importance rating by the Australian Strategic and Technical Advisory Group on antimicrobial resistance. High importance antimicrobials are those essential for the treatment or prevention of infections in humans, where there are few or no treatment alternatives. In this study we consulted with experts from across human and animal health using the Delphi consensus-building process to establish the circumstances under which antimicrobials with high importance to human health could be used in animals in Australia. We used three rounds of online surveys. Group responses were provided to participants in each subsequent round to facilitate convergence of opinion. Consensus was defined as 80 % or more of respondents selecting the same option for a question. By the end of the third round, consensus was achieved on eight items. This included the use of high importance antimicrobials being appropriate if culture and sensitivity testing indicated the organism was resistant to low- and medium-rated antimicrobials that could be used to treat the case. If any high-importance antimicrobials are prescribed for animals there was also agreement that a clear indication for this use and justification for antimicrobial choice must be recorded in the medical history, along with the dose rate, route of administration, the duration and the time point for review of the condition and associated antimicrobial therapy. Appropriateness of use of high importance antimicrobials in critically ill animals where culture and sensitivity results are not available is still undefined. Further work is also required to establish which particular organisation should be notified of the use of high importance antimicrobials not registered for use in animals. The Delphi process was valuable in facilitating consensus amongst international experts from a broad range of health backgrounds and experience.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11406009PMC
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.onehlt.2024.100883DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

high antimicrobials
16
antimicrobials
9
consensus international
8
international experts
8
animals delphi
8
culture sensitivity
8
high
6
animals
5
reaching consensus
4
experts high
4

Similar Publications

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!