Antibiotic resistance and antibiotic use in companion animal veterinary medicine
A qualitative study in Southwestern France
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 21258385 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Sophie Molia (0000-0002-5695-7464, Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement, corresponding author), Julien Mattern (Université de Pau et des Pays de l'Adour), Nicolas Fortané (0000-0001-6479-5808, Université Paris Dauphine-PSL) |
| Year | 2025 |
| Volume | 8 |
| Pages | 100632 |
| Publication date | 2025-12-01 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | SSM - Qualitative Research in Health (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 2667-3215 • E-ISSN: 2667-3215 |
| Publisher | Elsevier BV (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.1016/j.ssmqr.2025.100632 |
| OpenAlex | W4414104406 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 61 |
Antibiotic resistance (ABR) is a major global health threat and its connection to antibiotic use (ABU) in animals has been less explored in companion animals compared to food animals. To better understand how French companion animal veterinarians perceive ABR and reduce ABU, we conducted semi-structured interviews with 23 veterinarians (20 practitioners in Southwestern France and 3 institutional officials). Participants noted substantial progress in ABR awareness over the past two decades, despite the low incidence of ABR cases in routine non-referral companion animal care. They considered veterinarians had significantly reduced ABU, driven by concerns over prescription/sale decoupling and efforts such as awareness campaigns, regulations, and best practice guidelines. Personal factors, including values, life experiences, interest in alternative medicine, career paths, and practical experience, also played an important role. However, certain best practices remain inconsistent, particularly antimicrobial susceptibility testing and avoiding peri/post-operative ABU or first-intention cefovecin use in cats. Several factors were widely agreed upon as influencing ABU, including type of pathology, geographic location, veterinary peer influence, and client factors (particularly compliance and financial capacities). Yet, perceptions diverged regarding the impact of pharmaceutical inspections by health authorities, generational differences among practitioners, work pressure, and the corporatization of veterinary practices. While progress has been made, companion animal veterinarians recognized there is still room for ABU improvement. Looking ahead, they called for health authorities to trust veterinarians' clinical judgment, balance required efforts between veterinary and human medicine, avoid punitive actions or unnecessary restrictions, and focus on sensitization (awareness-increasing) through accessible, evidence-based, and context-dependent recommendations. • Personal and interpersonal factors strongly influence antibiotic use (ABU) decision. • ABU reduction was primarily driven by regulations and awareness campaigns. • Prescription autonomy is valued and resists the push towards standardization. • Vets face power struggles with pharmacists and doctors over ABU control measures
Antibiotic resistance · Companion animal · Corporatization · Focus group · One Health · Public health · Qualitative research · Clostridium difficile and Clostridium perfringens research · Veterinary medicine and infectious diseases · Veterinary Practice and Education Studies
The System of Professions
Antibiotic resistance—the need for global solutions
Using Qualitative Research
Using thematic analysis in psychology
The path of least resistance? Jurisdictions, responsibility and professional asymmetries in pharmacists' accounts of antibiotic decisions in hospitals
Objectification, standardization, and commodification in health care
Antibiotics, rational drug use and the architecture of global health in Zimbabwe
Professions in Process
| Highly cited | No |
|---|