Pfizer Launches ‘Respect Antibiotics’ Campaign

Dr Tim Nuttall Pfizer Animal Health launched a ‘Respect Antibiotics’ campaign this month (September 2012) to encourage careful and informed selection of appropriate antibiotic therapies for the treatment of dogs and cats. The campaign kicked off with an ‘Excellence in Dermatology’ CPD discussion in Birmingham on 4 September attended by over 100 vets. Antibiotic use is a necessary part of everyday veterinary practice but with the continuing emergence of resistant strains of bacteria, the negative consequences of misuse can be far-reaching. The Respect Antibiotics campaign is designed to address this. The Excellence in Dermatology CPD discussion on ‘Tackling the challenges of antibiotic use in veterinary dermatology’ is the first in a series of live and virtual educational events. The field of dermatology provides its own set of challenges as prolonged courses of therapy are often required. Chaired by Sally Anne Argyle, who introduced the current issues in antimicrobial usage, other speakers at the Excellence in Dermatology event included: Dr Tim Nuttall who discussed antimicrobial resistance in dermatology; and cytology, culture and diagnosis in practice; Janet Littlewood looking at therapeutic options in canine pyoderma and Dr Jill Maddison addressing the issue of patient compliance. As part of the Respect Antibiotics campaign, Pfizer will be releasing a webinar series through the Pfizer Animal Health website featuring this CPD event among others. Register your details at www.pfizerah.co.uk to be one of the first to receive exclusive access. Claire Williams, Pfizer product manager comments: “The aim of the event is to explore the challenges of antibiotic usage in veterinary dermatology, from the overarching issue of resistance through to the practical applications within veterinary practice for cytology, culture and diagnosis, therapeutic options and patient compliance.” “Our commitment to promoting respect for antibiotics is ongoing, from offering a range of targeted solutions for a range of clinical situations to supporting expert panels and encouraging informed discussions at events such as this.” Other activities that Pfizer has already undertaken to promote responsible antimicrobial usage include supporting the European Dermatology Expert Panel (EDEP) guidelines which outline a series of principles for the use of antibiotics in the management of skin and soft-tissue issues. Pfizer has also supported the British Veterinary Dental Association in producing similar guidelines for antimicrobial usage in small animal dentistry. Pfizer’s range of antibiotics – including Convenia®, Antirobe™ and Synulox™ – provide targeted solutions for common infections including skin & soft tissue, urinary tract, enteric, dental, respiratory and bone infections.

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