COMPANION ANIMAL ANTIMICROBIAL STEWARDSHIP AND INFECTION CONTROL 2024-2025 SEMINAR SERIES

This seminar series is organized and hosted by the Education & Outreach working group of Companion Animal Antimicrobial Stewards (CAAMS), which formed after a 2023 antimicrobial stewardship workshop hosted at the University of Minnesota with Tufts University and Ohio State University. Register to attend and access clinically relevant information and cutting-edge research updates that will help you implement and expand an antimicrobial stewardship and infection control program in your hospital! Click on the seminar title below to register.

Evaluating Antimicrobial Resistance and Antimicrobial Use in Dogs and Cats

The emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in dogs and cats poses a threat to animal and human health. First, AMR patterns in Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria isolated from urine samples submitted to the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory from dogs and cats suspected of urinary tract infections will be described. Next, survey results on Illinois veterinarians' antimicrobial prescription practices and the factors that influence their decisions when treating bacterial infections in dogs and cats will be presented. The provided information on AMR and AMU in dogs and cats will help animal health stakeholders in developing stewardship programs.

Presented by: Csaba Varga, DVM MSc PhD DACVPM
Csaba Varga, DVM MSc PhD DACVPM is an infectious disease epidemiologist aiming to help public health stakeholders design effective disease prevention and control programs. Dr. Varga is an Assistant Professor of Epidemiology at the College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois Urbana Champaign, USA. The mission of his research is to improve the health of populations by applying the One Health concept that recognizes connections between humans, animals, and their shared environment. His research program's main focus is to understand the burden and risk factors of pathogens and identify risk factors contributing to the emergence of antimicrobial resistance in pathogenic and commensal enteric bacteria. His research team aims to assist public and animal health agencies in implementing effective prevention and control strategies to reduce the health burden of these pathogens.

This program has been submitted (but is not yet approved) for 9 hours of continuing education credit (1 hour per session) in jurisdictions which recognize RACE approval. All seminars take place at 1:00 PM Eastern Time / 7:00 PM Central European Time.