Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) is a One Health issue that impacts humans, animals, and the environment. If these 3 components are not acknowledged and addressed equally, this problem will continue to spread. Veterinarians are uniquely trained in zoonotic diseases, population medicine, and public health. We have been working to fight AMR in our patients through good infection control and biosecurity practices, preventive/wellnes care, and judicious use of antibiotics.
We now have the opportunity as veterinarians to engage in a One Health solution to address this One Health problem: Antimicrobial Stewardship Programs. Antimicrobial Stewadship Programs are designed to increase awareness of antimicrobial resistance and provide data to support judicious antimicrobial prescribing decisions. These programs are well-established in human health care facilities, but have not been widely adopted in veterinary medicine. The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medince Antimicrobial Stewardship Working Group plans to partner with veterinary practitioners through the BuckeyeASP Certification Program to change this.
