Get Smart: Know When Antibiotics Work on the Farm: Educational Activities to Promote Appropriate Use of Antimicrobial Agents in Animals

1) Distribute current practices and educational materials
2) Fund sites and provide technical assistance to develop, implement, and evaluate local campaigns
3) Support development and testing of veterinary medical curricula for students
4) Fund a national advertising campaign promoting the appropriate use of antibiotics
5) Develop an efficient and accurate means of measuring antimicrobial use in veterinary medicine and agriculture
Appropriate Use of Antimicrobial Agents: Course Materials for Veterinary Students and Veterinary Continuing Education
This interactive web-based program combines aspects of microbiology, pharmacology, infectious disease and public health to promote appropriate use of antimicrobial agents by veterinarians. Working in partnership with human health professionals, food animal producers, animal owners, and the general public, the appropriate use of antimicrobial agents by veterinarians can help to mitigate further development and spread of resistance in human, animal, and zoonotic pathogens and commensal bacteria. The program consists of two parts:
blue arrow bullet A Background module that provides an introduction to the global, ecological nature of the antimicrobial resistance problem.
blue arrow bullet Species-specific modules that contain interactive case scenarios aimed at providing practical, clinical applications for the appropriate use guidelines as set forth in the WHO Global Principles for the Containment of Antimicrobial Resistance in Animals Intended for Food.

Specific topics addressed in the program include:
blue arrow bullet Mechanisms of resistance
blue arrow bullet Diagnostic tools and tests
blue arrow bullet Guidelines for empirical treatment
blue arrow bullet Client education
blue arrow bullet Alternatives to antibiotics
blue arrow bullet Resistance in animals secondary to use of antimicrobial agents
blue arrow bullet Public health risks of use of antimicrobial agents in food animals and in companion animals and the connection to antimicrobial resistant infections in people

State Demonstration Project: Collaborations Between State Public Health and Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratories
blue arrow bullet To foster collaborations on antimicrobial resistance between state public health laboratories and state agriculture (veterinary diagnostic) laboratories.
blue arrow bullet To establish local surveillance of antimicrobial resistance among enteric bacteria from humans and animals.
blue arrow bullet To develop community-based programs on appropriate use of antimicrobials in animals.
blue arrow bullet CDC is currently supporting a project between Michigan Department of Community Health and the Diagnostic Center for Animal Population Health at Michigan State University.


Get Smart on the Farm BarnFor more information contact GET SMART: Know When Antibiotics Work on the Farm :

Bernadette Hartman, DVM
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System
1600 Clifton Road, MS-D63
Atlanta, GA 30333
Phone: 404-639-3399
Fax: 404-639-3535
Email: getsmartfarm@cdc.gov

For more information on the overall Get Smart program, please click HERE.