Antimicrobials are an essential part of modern equine practice; imagining clinical practice without them seems far fetched, yet antimicrobial resistance is an escalating problem for all healthcare professionals.

While there is no evidence-based strategy that will reduce existing resistance, the incontrovertible evidence is that antimicrobial use leads to antimicrobial resistance and that effective antimicrobial stewardship results in reduced antimicrobial use.

Antimicrobial stewardship does not mean stopping the use of antimicrobials; it involves the development of strategies to ensure that they are used effectively.

Click here to read more from this article in the Equine Veterinary Journal.