Comparison of perceptions and concerns of antimicrobial resistance between veterinary and medical health professionals.

OBJECTIVE: To understand the comparative concerns and perceptions of veterinary and medical health professionals regarding antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and its effects on their clinical practices. SAMPLE: 17 Doctors of medicine and veterinary medicine and 1 nurse practitioner were interviewed to collect qualitative-based data regarding their clinical experience with AMR. METHODS: The interviews from the health professionals were transcribed and thematically coded to reveal 3 overarching themes and 7 corresponding subthemes. RESULTS: Both veterinary and human medical health professionals share concerns about antimicrobial resistance, specifically regarding the development of "superbugs" and increased difficulty in treating disease. However, there were some unique differences in the clinical effects of AMR between the professions in relation to client demand and satisfaction, ability to track/test trends, and approaches to therapy. Both professions also discussed the possible one-health implications of AMR and its transmission. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: There are several barriers to veterinarians that prevent them from using best-practice methods with antimicrobials that were not shared with human medical personnel, who can use antibiotic stewardship principles and readily access necessary testing. However, many veterinarians possessed a unique one-health-based understanding of how antimicrobial resistance can affect the wider community across species and globally that many human medical professionals had not previously considered. This demonstrates an increased need for one-health understanding within human medical professionals and a need for veterinarians to have access to necessary tools to comply with stewardship guidelines, such as culture and sensitivity testing and antibiograms, to have the ability to limit their contribution to antibiotic resistance.

US veterinarians' perceptions of discussing COVID-19 vaccination with animal owners during routine visits.

COVID-19 vaccination uptake is disproportionately lower among rural, politically conservative, and underserved individuals in the United States. Engaging this population requires leveraging unique potential human health advocates, like veterinarians. Between September and October 2021, 103 veterinarians responded to open-ended prompts to assess providers' willingness and potential barriers to discussing COVID-19 vaccination within a veterinary visit. Veterinarians perceived they had a public health role in providing reliable and accurate COVID-19 information, including information related to approved vaccines. However, veterinary practitioners were aware of numerous potential barriers to having such discussions within a clinical visit (e.g., scope of practice concerns, shifting focus away from the animal, politicization of vaccination). Findings indicate policy efforts, aligned with the One Health initiative, are needed to address the role of veterinary medicine in human health care following catastrophic events, like the COVID-19 pandemic. Similarly, veterinarians require tailored vaccine materials that can be utilized within the clinic or community setting.