ANTIMICROBIAL DRUG USAGE AMOUNTS ASSESSMENT IN THE VETERINARY TREATMENT OF COMPANION ANIMALS

Modern information systems allow for the recording and tracking of many parameters of veterinary practice almost in real-time. This powerful tool, when properly configured, serves as a valuable source of information, including the structure and amount of antimicrobial drug use. This information is particularly valuable in implementing the principles of One Health.An analysis and assessment of the volumes of antimicrobial drug use in small animal veterinary practice was conducted based on the example of a specific veterinary clinic over the past five years. The information was obtained from the database of a licensed private veterinary clinic located in the Bucha district of Kyiv Oblast. The study examined the quantity and frequency of use of antimicrobial drugs from the following groups: aminoglycosides, beta-lactams, lincosamides, macrolides, nitroimidazole derivatives, sulfonamides, tetracyclines, phenicols, fluoroquinolones, polymyxins, third-generation cephalosporins, and fourth-generation cephalosporins.It was found that over five years, 27.88% of companion animal visits to the clinic involved the use of antimicrobial drugs. On average, the veterinary clinic served (9877.4±426.5) visits per year. A high degree of correlation was statistically established between the total number of visits conducted year by year and the number of visits involving the use of antimicrobial drugs, with a correlation coefficient of 0.83. During the treatment of companion animals, single- component antimicrobial drugs were used more frequently (8953 cases, 18.1% of the total number of visits) compared to combined ones (4817 cases, 9.75% of the total number of visits). The most frequently used antibiotics in the veterinary clinic were beta-lactams – 27.32% of cases, cephalosporins – 24.3% of cases, macrolides – 22.6% of cases, and fluoroquinolones – 18.36% of cases.