Effectiveness of Confirmatory Lab Diagnosis in Combating Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) in Animals at Veterinary Hospitals in Chattogram and Dhaka, Bangladesh

Abstract

The indiscriminate and irrational usage of antimicrobials in animals might hasten the critical problem of AMR. In Bangladesh, the majority of diseases in animals are diagnosed and treated with antimicrobials based on clinical signs. As a result, the antimicrobial response has become poor, and AMR is spreading rapidly. The current study attempted to find the basis for diagnosis and justification of antimicrobial prescribing to animals, as well as the effects of diagnostic procedures on responses. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted with 354 patients at veterinary hospitals in Chattogram and Dhaka districts. Data on diagnosis types, antimicrobial use, the effect of diagnosis procedures on antimicrobial response, etc. were analyzed. Furthermore, the usage of antimicrobials was compared to 31 research publications on AMR in animals in Bangladesh. Data from SAQTVH (54%), TTPHRC (27%), Mirsarai UVH (13%), Pet Clinics of Dhaka (4%), and Chattogram (2%) indicate antimicrobials were prescribed in 84.5% of all cases based only on clinical signs. Besides, only 15.5% of patients had conducted lab tests. Antimicrobial treatment response by lab diagnosis (94.6%) is greater than no lab diagnosis (78.6%). In this situation, the P value is 0.019 (p<0.05). In cats (3%) and poultry (7.5%), more than two antimicrobials (6%) were used at once. In contrast to other categories, the response rate was greater (95.2%); the P value was 0.038 (p<0.05). Higher resistance of Staphylococcus aureus (65.9%) and Streptococcus spp. (83.4%) was seen in cattle treated with penicillin-streptomycin (34.7%). Ceftriaxone (31.9%) in cat cases showed significant resistance to Streptococcus spp., E. coli, and Staphylococcus aureus. E. coli (88.4%), Campylobacter spp. (85%), and Staphylococcus aureus (66%), all showed high resistance to sulfa drug (23.4%) in poultry. Based on this, it is recommended that antimicrobials be identified and used at veterinary hospitals after a correct lab diagnostic test, as well as AST.