Factors associated with antimicrobial drug prescription in inpatient dogs and cats at a veterinary teaching hospital.

BACKGROUND

Identifying factors associated with antimicrobial use in dogs and cats supports antimicrobial stewardship initiatives.

HYPOTHESIS/

OBJECTIVES

Identify demographic, clinical, and treatment factors associated with prescribing systemic antimicrobial treatment in dogs and cats hospitalized at a small animal veterinary teaching hospital.

ANIMALS: Inpatient dogs (n = 9112) with 10 749 admissions and inpatient cats (n = 3146) with 3684 admissions to a small animal teaching hospital.

METHODS

A veterinary-adapted Observational Medical Outcomes Partnership Common Data Model was used to analyze demographic, clinical, and prescription data from the electronic medical record system in this observational cross-sectional study. Using generalized estimating equations, we identified factors associated with systemic antimicrobial prescription during admission among inpatient dogs and cats from 2020 to 2022.

RESULTS

In dogs (mean age, 7.2 years; 47% females), factors associated with the highest odds of any antimicrobial prescription were history of surgery within the previous 10 days (odds ratio [OR], 2.4; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.67-3.45), surgery during admission (OR, 2.11; 95% CI, 1.91-2.32), and venous sampling catheter placement (OR, 1.98; 95% CI, 1.58-2.49), adjusted for all covariables in the model. In cats (mean age, 8.4 years; 38% females), factors associated with the highest odds of any antimicrobial prescription were venous sampling catheter placement (OR, 3.25; 95% CI, 2.09-5.06), surgery during admission (OR, 1.58; 95% CI, 1.3-1.92), and admission duration (OR, 1.54; 95% CI, 1.44-1.65), adjusted for all covariables in the model.

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL

IMPORTANCE

We identified multiple factors associated with antimicrobial use in inpatient dogs and cats that can support benchmark development and veterinary antimicrobial stewardship efforts.