Update from Agriculture Victoria on antimicrobial resistance resources

Veterinary practitioners have an important role to play in the fight against antimicrobial resistance. Appropriate antimicrobial use is essential for good animal health and welfare, public health, and trade market outcomes. As part of its commitment to the implementation of the National Antimicrobial Resistance Strategy 2015-2019, Agriculture Victoria has created education materials about antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and antimicrobial stewardship (AMS).

After surveying Victorian veterinary practitioners about the resources that would best assist them to improve their AMS and better educate their clients on AMR, Agriculture Victoria developed new resources for practitioners in collaboration with the University of Melbourne including materials to guide appropriate prescribing and to help start conversations about AMR with clients. Agriculture Victoria presented these resources at the annual Australian Veterinary Association conference and at Victorian AVA events in 2019.

• antibiotic prescribing category cards for dogs and cats, horses, cattle and sheep
• prescribing pads and leaflets for clients explaining why antibiotics have or have not been prescribed
• waiting room posters
• sticker sheets and squeezy animal toys for kids, and
• AMR-branded stainless-steel mugs

To order any of these new materials, email [email protected].

Agriculture Victoria has also recently partnered with the Antibiotic Guardian website and added an Australian page to the platform. You can go online and pledge your support today at antibioticguardian.com/au. Email your details to [email protected] after you have pledged, and Agriculture Victoria will send you a lapel pin (pictured right) to wear at work and stimulate discussion with staff and clients.

To learn more about what antimicrobial stewardship means for you and your clinic, visit Agriculture Victoria's newly updated AMR webpage at agriculture.vic.gov.au/amr.