Antimicrobial susceptibility testing by Australian veterinary diagnostic laboratories

Abstract

Background: The national strategy for tackling antimicrobial resistance highlights the need for antimicrobial stewardship in veterinary practice and for surveillance of antimicrobial susceptibility in veterinary pathogens. Diagnostic laboratories have an important role in facilitating both of these processes, but it is unclear whether data from veterinary diagnostic laboratories are similar enough to allow for compilation and if there is consistent promotion of appropriate antimicrobial use embedded in the approaches of different laboratories to susceptibility testing. Methods: A cross-sectional study of antimicrobial susceptibility testing and reporting procedures by Australian veterinary d..