PRESCRIPTION AND USE OF ANTIMICROBIALS BY VETERINARY DOCTORS IN RIO GRANDE DO SUL AND THE RELATIONSHIP WITH ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE AND ONE HEALTH

Abstract

Antimicrobial resistance is considered one of the major challenges facing contemporary health systems. Antimicrobials are among the most frequently prescribed and dispensed classes of drugs for therapeutic and prophylactic use, and the indiscriminate use of these substances in humans and animals is recognized as one of the main causes of the development of antimicrobial resistance and the emergence of multidrug-resistant bacteria. In this context, awareness regarding prescription practices, rational use, and proper disposal of these drugs in human and animal health is essential. The aim of this study was to investigate, in municipalities of the state of Rio Grande do Sul, whether veterinarians are aware of their role within the One Health framework, to identify the criteria used for the selection and prescription of antimicrobials, and to assess professionals’ perceptions of how their conduct may contribute to antimicrobial resistance. This is a cross-sectional, observational study with a quantitative approach, conducted between August 2021 and January 2022, through the application of a structured questionnaire containing 18 objective questions, administered to 126 veterinarians working in municipalities across all mesoregions of the state of Rio Grande do Sul. Data collection was carried out online through voluntary completion of a questionnaire developed on the Google Forms platform and disseminated via WhatsApp, e-mail, and Instagram. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The results showed that most veterinarians recognize their importance within the One Health context; however, a high frequency of empirical antimicrobial prescription was observed. The main barriers reported to the limited use of antimicrobial susceptibility testing were the cost of the examination and the time required to obtain laboratory results.