EventsThe 4th International Electronic Conference on Antibiotics
Event submissions
Published
This submission belongs to the session S2. Antibiotics and One Health of the event The 4th International Electronic Conference on Antibiotics
Published date
19 May, 2025
Academic Editor
author-avatarEfstathios Giaouris
Citation
Jacinta O. Pinho, Maria Teresa Herdeiro, Fátima Roque, Rafaela Nogueira, Ana Isabel Plácido, Ana Cláudia Coelho, Paula Oliveira, Antibiotic Prescription In Food-Producing Animals—A Focus Group Study To Assess Portuguese Veterinarians’ Knowledge And Attitudes, in Proceedings of The 4th International Electronic Conference on Antibiotics, 21 May–23 May 2025, MDPI: Basel, Switzerland
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Antibiotic Prescription In Food-Producing Animals—A Focus Group Study To Assess Portuguese Veterinarians’ Knowledge And Attitudes

Jacinta O. Pinho 1
Rafaela Nogueira 2,3
Ana Isabel Plácido 4,5
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Ana Cláudia Coelho 6,7
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Paula Oliveira 3,6,8
Fátima Roque 4,9
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Maria Teresa Herdeiro 1
1. Department of Medical Sciences, Institute of Biomedicine (iBiMED), University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal, Portugal
2. Centre for the Research and Technology of Agro-Environmental and Biological Sciences (CITAB), University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, Vila Real, Portugal, Portugal
3. Institute for Innovation, Capacity Building and Sustainability of Agri-Food Production (Inov4Agro), University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, Vila Real, Portugal
4. BRIDGES - Biotechnology Research, Innovation and Design for Health Products, Guarda, Portugal, Portugal
5. Research Laboratory on Epidemiology and Population Health, Polytechnic of Guarda (IPG), Guarda, Portugal
6. Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, Vila Real, Portugal, Portugal
7. Animal and Veterinary Research Centre (CECAV), Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Sciences (AL4AnimalS), University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Vila Real, Portugal
8. Centre for the Research and Technology of Agro-Environmental and Biological Sciences (CITAB), University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, Vila Real, Portugal
9. Research Laboratory on Epidemiology and Population Health, Polytechnic of Guarda (IPG), Guarda, Portugal.
Abstract

Introduction: The inadequate use of antibiotics in humans, animals, and agriculture has been associated with the emergence and dissemination of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. To successfully tackle the public health problem of antibiotic resistance (ABR), it is necessary to take a One Health approach.

Methods: Focus groups were carried out among Portuguese veterinarians whose practice was in production animals (bovine, swine, ovine, and caprine). The topic guide was constructed based on the information obtained from a previous systematic review. Qualitative analysis was performed using NVivo software.

Results: Six focus groups were conducted, with a total of 19 veterinarians. From this study, four main themes emerged: (1) a lack of control of antibiotic use/drug residues in food-producing animals: surveillance/monitoring should be improved by investing in human resources/tools. The illegal access to drugs should be more strictly controlled, as it undermines antibiotic stewardship; (2) challenges in guideline adherence: guidelines should be simplified and adjusted for ABR and production animals. Authorization/access to vaccines used in other countries is difficult and time-consuming; (3) limited ABR knowledge: fear of animal loss drives antibiotic overuse/misuse; (4) client resource constraints: poor husbandry and delayed veterinary intervention, combined with veterinarians' workload and stress, contribute to inappropriate antibiotic use.

Conclusions: To promote responsible antibiotic use in veterinary medicine, we need better monitoring systems, simplified guidelines, and increased vaccine access. Educational interventions for veterinarians and clients are essential, and collaboration among all stakeholders is vital for enhancing governance and ensuring sustainable antimicrobial practices.

Funding: Project 2022.04568.PTDC, supported by the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) in its state budget component (OE).

Keywords
antibiotic resistance
One Health approach
veterinarian
antibiotic prescription
modifiable factors
Poster
Poster_ECA2025_Jacinta Pinho.pdf
Poster_ECA2025_Jacinta Pinho.pdf
In Silico Design and Docking of Novel Benzimidazole Derivatives as Inhibitors Targeting AcrB Efflux Pump and NDM-1 Carbapenemase: Strategies to Combat Antibiotic Resistance
Aurones and their derivatives as promising antimicrobial molecules.