An official website of the United States government.
The objectives are to develop and beta test a novel web-based tool which can be used to document antibiotic use in swine production. This tool, the Electronic Veterinary Prescriptions (eVRx) System, when implemented by veterinary practices and pork producers will encourage, aid, and document, the responsible, prudent and judicious use of antimicrobials in pork production. It would assist the veterinarian in prudent use compliance according to AVMA prudent use guidelines. It will provide electronic prescriptions; validate appropriate management of those prescriptions; provide validity of all antimicrobial use in feed, water, and parenteral routes. It will provide use documentation for prescriptions, veterinary feed directives, and non-prescription antimicrobial use. This product will provide a web-based tool that will link laboratory antimicrobial diagnostics/sensitivities, the licensed food supply veterinarian, the customers they legally serve, and the consumer by providing a powerful management tool and documentation of all antimicrobial use. This product could eventually document and verify the safe and prudent use of all antimicrobials used in the pork production industry. It potentially has the power to verify or refute the assumption that antimicrobial use in animal agriculture adversely affects antimicrobial resistance in human medicine.
NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY: However, resistant determinates (genetic elements that transfer antibiotic resistance to human pathogens) in bacteria that may be transmitted by pork products, are also potential hazards. This project will provide more than just interesting research findings. It will provide the groundwork for a powerful tool to identify and reduce risk from inappropriate antibiotic use, while helping protect the industry from unnecessary regulatory intervention. Antibiotics are critical tools in efficient and profitable pork production. The use of these tools is being threatened by legislators, regulators, and ill informed consumers with little input from scientific risk assessments. Antibiotic use is now perceived to be a food safety risk. World-wide there is continuing and mounting pressure against the use of antibiotics in food animals due to concerns that resistance determinates might transfer to human pathogens, resulting in compromised treatments. These threats to antibiotic use in food animals are real. Fluoroquinolones have been banned for treatment of US poultry diseases. Legislation is pending in many congressional committees to implement antibiotic bans similar to those in Europe. Additionally, Denmark is now developing treatment guidelines mandating to veterinarians precisely how to treat various swine diseases, resulting in a loss of professional judgment. These threats are developing because the public does not seem to believe that producers and veterinarians are using antibiotics and other pharmaceutical tools in a responsible and judicious manner. This project will develop a tool, which if implemented by the industry, will contradict that current misperception.
<P>
APPROACH: Objective A will begin with a mock up of input and output screens. These will be reviewed with two focus groups selected for their leadership in swine production and their willingness to assist. The groups will represent producers, practitioners and pharmaceutical companies that provide swine antibiotics. Note, preliminary ideas for eVRx have already been discussed with many of these groups. The eVRX will be developed so as to implement a work flow similar to the following PROPOSED WORK FLOW 1. Veterinarian (with a valid client patient relationship) visits or consults with producer, conducts necessary diagnostics, decides on required treatment, including antimicrobial selection. Vet or staff logs onto GVL website for eVRx, choosing to create a new prescription where he can: a. Enter data on the type of condition e.g. respiratory, enteric (drop down choices will be provided b. Enter data on specific diagnosis c. Enter lab, where appropriate. Future versions will allow automatic updating from participating diagnostic laboratories. d. Choose prescribed treatment: NOTE. If the vet wants more options for treatment he may go to external websites which will be linked to this system. Those sites can provide treatment options based on symptoms, e.g. respiratory disease in pigs. They provide an ongoing updated source of treatment recommendations. e. Enter data for the farm, the barn, etc. GlobalVetLink's security platform has oversight by FDA and USDA. GVL followed FDA's CFR 21 Part 11 guidelines, and maintains current SOPs and validation of our processes. GVL incorporates the PKI eSignature technology within its platform. f. Enter drug information, dosage, length of time, etc. 2. The Rx is sent. Upon submission of the prescription, an email and text message is sent to the farmer, production manager, or others designated. It will include the details of the prescription. Extra documents with detailed instructions can be attached as needed. 3. Expiration date is generated based on length of prescribed treatment. Once the prescription has expired an email notice is sent to the producer and vet, as well as appearing on the respective log in screens. (slaughter withdrawal times, disposal of product, bottles, potential hazards etc. would be included in the Rx agreement form. 4. Multiple reports can be generated by the veterinarian to aid future treatment recommendations for the specific producer or disease condition. Objective B. Alpha and Beta test web based tool for responsible antibiotic use Testing will proceed in two cycles. Alpha testing will involve interaction with the two focus/advisory groups. They will work through above workflow, while viewing mock up screen shots of the various data entry screens. Improvements will be made based on this feedback. Beta testing will involve interactions of the two advisory groups with a working prototype. This feedback be gathered by means of a joint webinar. Where users enter template and real data into the system, configured to their practice and client detail for owners, sites, barns, sow flow, genetics, etc.