Antibiotic use and resistance in animal production are a concern to public health, and there is an urgent need to reduce antibiotic use in farm animals. To prevent blame shifting, professionals from human medicine, animal medicine and environmental backgrounds must collaborate to tackle this issue. Veterinarians are typically responsible for overseeing and prescribing antibiotic use in animals. There are currently no available studies on the opinions of Irish farm animal veterinarians on antibiotic use, reduction opportunities and their relationships with farmers. A digital survey was developed and sent out to Irish farm animal veterinarians. This paper presents the results of a cross-sectional study of Irish farm animal veterinarians’ attitudes towards antimicrobial stewardship, their prescribing behaviours, antibiotic reduction opportunities and their attitudes for the future of antibiotic use. The veterinarian-farmer relationship is examined and potential interventions to reduce antibiotic use on farms are identified. In total, 114 complete questionnaires were received, representing approximately 11 per cent of all farm animal veterinarians in Ireland. Respondents were aware of the problem of antibiotic resistance and recognise their role in the fight against it. They realise what actions they must take to reduce antibiotic use and identify barriers that prevent their farmer clients from implementing their advice. Many of them say that they can reduce antibiotic use on farms in the future, but some remain doubtful. There was no statistical difference between veterinarians that had less experience working than those that had more experience in their attitudes towards future reduction in antibiotic use. Most of the respondents seek to use antibiotics as judiciously as they can. The majority agree that antibiotic overuse is the main contributor to antibiotic resistance. Possible solutions to reduce antibiotic use include the development of antibiotic treatment guidelines, assigning one unique practice to each farm and compulsory CPD (Continuous Professional Development) courses.

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爱尔兰农场动物兽医对抗生素使用及其在抗菌药物管理中的作用的看法

动物生产中的抗生素使用和耐药性是公众健康关注的一个问题，迫切需要减少农场动物的抗生素使用。为了防止责任转移，来自人类医学、动物医学和环境背景的专业人士必须合作解决这个问题。兽医通常负责监督和开具动物抗生素的使用处方。目前还没有关于爱尔兰农场动物兽医对抗生素使用、减少机会及其与农民关系的意见的研究。开发了一项数字调查并将其发送给爱尔兰农场动物兽医。本文介绍了爱尔兰农场动物兽医对抗菌药物管理的态度、他们的处方行为、抗生素减少机会以及他们对未来抗生素使用的态度的横断面研究结果。研究了兽医与农民的关系，并确定了减少农场抗生素使用的潜在干预措施。总共收到 114 份完整的调查问卷，约占爱尔兰所有农场动物兽医的 11%。受访者意识到抗生素耐药性问题，并认识到他们在对抗抗生素耐药性方面的作用。他们意识到必须采取哪些行动来减少抗生素的使用，并找出阻止农民客户实施他们建议的障碍。他们中的许多人表示，他们将来可以减少农场抗生素的使用，但有些人仍然持怀疑态度。工作经验较少的兽医与工作经验丰富的兽医对未来减少抗生素使用的态度没有统计学差异。大多数受访者寻求尽可能明智地使用抗生素。大多数人认为抗生素过度使用是抗生素耐药性的主要原因。减少抗生素使用的可能解决方案包括制定抗生素治疗指南、为每个农场分配一种独特的做法以及强制性的 CPD（持续专业发展）课程。