In Temuco, with great assistance from veterinarians and producers from the region, the Agricultural and Livestock Service in La Araucanía trained the participants in the regulations, Exempt Resolution No.: 4116/2023, which creates the System for the Electronic Prescription of Veterinary Antimicrobials implemented for the Service and which will be mandatory for use as of January 1, 2024.
The Veterinary Doctor, Master in Pharmacology, participated in the activity that was carried out thanks to the support of the Temuco Agricultural Development Society SOFO., Verónica Seguel Carreño. The professional from the Veterinary Medicines Registration and Control Subdepartment of the Livestock Protection Division of the SAG was the one who gave the training in which, in addition to making the new regulations known, the responsible and prudent use of antimicrobials was emphasized, focused on the responsibilities that property owners and veterinary doctors have and the role that veterinary medicine has regarding the resistance of these products.
It should be noted that Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) occurs when microorganisms (bacteria, fungi, viruses and parasites) undergo changes when exposed to antimicrobials (antibiotics, antifungals, antivirals, for example). As a result, medications become ineffective and infections persist in the body, increasing the risk of AMR spreading to people, animals and the environment.
electronic system
Global concern about the use of antimicrobials in animal health, mainly related to the increase in antimicrobial resistance and its impact on public health, has generated various actions such as the creation of the National Plan Against Antimicrobial Resistance led by MINSAL, which considers the implementation of a monitoring system for antimicrobial consumption that allows better management to control their use, monitoring the prescription and use of antimicrobials in the terrestrial and aquatic production animal industry, as well as companion animals.
In that sense, the SAG Electronic Prescription System is focused on registering products for terrestrial and companion animals, because Sernapesca has its own system for hydrobiological species. In the system that is in whiteout until December 31 and as of January 1 it begins to be mandatory, veterinary doctors must make electronic prescriptions for the antimicrobials registered in the Service so that the purchase of the products can be made and the effective treatment of them on the property,” explained Verónica Seguel, from the Veterinary Medicines Registration and Control Subdepartment of the Livestock Protection Division of the SAG.
The regional director of the SAG, Francisco Castillo, highlighted this instance that contributes to informing and training on a topic of great importance for the Service such as antimicrobial resistance, which is currently considered a silent emerging pandemic, which is why the Ministry of Agriculture, through the SAG is working jointly with public and private institutions and together with academia to disseminate the correct use of antimicrobials in veterinary medicine, which is one of the fundamental pillars to prevent this phenomenon that affects animal health, food safety and public health.
How to prevent RAM
The Veterinarian and regional manager of Livestock Protection in La Araucanía, Rolando Sepúlveda, explained that the Service has reported through various media and the institution’s website that Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) can be prevented by carrying out a series of measures. as: Responsible prescription, within the framework of the clinical act and based on epidemiological history and laboratory results.
Promotion of good production, livestock and biosafety practices, prioritizing preventive strategies (hygienic-sanitary measures, environmental control, vaccination plans, among others). Monitoring the emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance.
Monitoring and evaluation of the treatment established, suspending or modifying it if necessary, considering the clinical evolution and, if possible, the results of antimicrobial susceptibility tests.
Report suspicions of lack of efficacy of antimicrobials to the SAG Pharmacovigilance System.
Limit the administration of antimicrobials through medicated feed and drinking water only to those very justified cases.
