Intervention with impact: reduced MRSP isolations from dogs following antimicrobial prescribing legislation in Germany

Loeffler, Anette; Beever, Lee; Ruby Chang, Yu-Mei; Klein, Babetter; Kostka, Veit; Meyer, Cornelia; Mueller, Elisabeth; Weis, Jessica; Wildermuth, Brett; Fishwick, John; Lloyd, David H.

Abstract

Background: Legislation was introduced in Germany in 2018, requiring bacterial culture and antimicrobial susceptibility testing before prescribing of fluoroquinolones and third generation cephalosporins to dogs. We hypothesised that following this intervention meticillin-resistant S. pseudintermedius (MRSP) amongst clinical submissions of S. pseudintermedius would reduce.
Methods: Reports of S. pseudintermedius isolated from clinical samples of dogs in Germany by three veterinary diagnostic microbiology laboratories were compared during 38 months before and 46 months after the legislative change. Bacterial identification was by Maldi-ToF; antimicrobial susceptibility testing followed recognised recommendations but with changes during the study period.
Results: Amongst a total of 120,571 S. pseudintermedius isolates, MRSP accounted for 7.1% overall. Following the legislative intervention, monthly submissions yielding S. pseudintermedius increased at all three laboratories. The percentage of MRSP increased up to the legislative change in one laboratory, followed by a year-on-year reduction thereafter (P=0.0004); in the other two laboratories, a lower total percentage of MRSP was seen after the intervention (P<0.001).
Limitations: Changing sensitivity testing methods limited direct comparison of resistance patterns amongst the laboratories.
Conclusion: The reduction of MRSP in clinical samples from dogs following introduction of this legislation supports a positive impact of compulsory laboratory testing on reduced antimicrobial resistance.

Citation

Loeffler, A., Beever, L., Ruby Chang, Y., Klein, B., Kostka, V., Meyer, C., …Lloyd, D. H. (in press). Intervention with impact: reduced MRSP isolations from dogs following antimicrobial prescribing legislation in Germany. Veterinary Record, https://doi.org/10.1002/vetr.3714

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Nov 21, 2023
• Online Publication Date: Nov 15, 2023
• Deposit Date: Jul 10, 2023
• Publicly Available Date: Jan 30, 2024
• Print ISSN: 0042-4900
• Publisher: BMJ Publishing Group
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/vetr.3714