Journal of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences
(ISSN: 2659 – 0743)
Volume 7, No. 2, 2025
Pages 354-361
DOI: 10.36108/jvbs/5202.70.0280
Evaluation of Antibiotic Use and Strategies for Mitigating Unethical Veterinary Drugs Prescription in Jere Local Government Area and Maiduguri Metropolis, Borno State, Nigeria
Shamaki, B.U.1*, 1Nubwa, D., Malgwi, K.D2,3., Kadai, B.A1. and Cephas, N.A.1
1Department of Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria.
2University of Maiduguri Veterinary Teaching Hospital (UMVTH), Nigeria.
3Department of Microbiology, Genetics and Immunology, Michigan State University, USA.
ABSTRACT
Antimicrobial misuse in the treatment of diseases of microbial origin in veterinary clinical practice is a growing concern due to its contribution to antibiotic resistance. The aim of this research is to gain information on antimicrobial use/misuse through questionnaire-based survey. A total of 100 structured questionnaires was issued to field veterinarians and veterinary shop owners in Jere and Maiduguri Metropolitan Councils of Borno State. This is to help proffer some strategies for reducing unnecessary antibiotic prescriptions, promote diagnostic testing, responsible use and public awareness. These approaches targeted parameters such as client demands, diagnostic uncertainties, clinical inertia, prescriber factors and system level factors. Results from 58 duly filled and returned questionnaires from this study showed that clinical inertia 17 (29.31%) forms the highest reason for antibiotic overuse, followed by system level factors 13 (22.41%), prescriber factor 12 (20.68%), clinical demand 9 (15.51%) and diagnostic uncertainties 7 (12.06%). It was equally observed that antibiotics mostly overused are; Oxytetracycline (50 mg and 200 mg), Penicillin – Streptomycin, Tylosin, Terramycin in this order, and other broad-spectrum antibiotics. This result showed the tendency to use antibiotics with or without disease conditions in animals, and without recourse to cause of disease, form the underlying basis of antibiotic resistance development. Thus, there is a need to curtail antimicrobial resistance through a multi-faceted awareness approach that includes antimicrobial stewardship education programs for veterinarians, para-veterinarians, pet owners, farmers, and the promotion of rational antibiotic use. Government and stakeholders in the livestock sector should work together to implement these strategies for better antibiotic stewardship.
Keywords: Antimicrobials, Misuse, Antimicrobial resistance, Antibiotic prescription, Veterinary medicine.