Factors associated with antimicrobial drug prescription in cats receiving outpatient care at a veterinary teaching hospital
4 affiliations
- 1Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, Tufts University, North Grafton, MA, USA
- 2Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Tufts University, Boston, MA, USA
- 3Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Research Department, Boston, MA, USA
- 4Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
Abstract
Objectives: Investigations of factors associated with antimicrobial drug prescription(s) (ADP) in cats receiving outpatient care are lacking, which limits antimicrobial stewardship efforts and benchmarking of veterinary antimicrobial use. This study aimed to identify factors associated with ADP in cats receiving outpatient care at a veterinary teaching hospital.
Methods: A retrospective analysis of electronic medical record data from cats receiving outpatient care at a veterinary teaching hospital in 2022 was performed. Subjects included 2245 cats with 3973 outpatient visits. The primary study outcome was receipt of at least one systemic ADP during or immediately after an outpatient visit; an exploratory outcome was receipt of a ‘Watch’ or ‘Reserve’ (WR) ADP using the World Health Organization (WHO) Access-Watch-Reserve (AWaRe) classification adapted to include veterinary agents. Independent variables, including patient demographics, hospital service and owner sociodemographic factors, were identified for model fitting using univariable logistic regression; multivariable models were built using generalized estimating equations.
Results: Of outpatient visit records, 367/3973 (9.2%) were associated with one or more ADP. Factors significantly associated with receipt of ADP included patient sex, hospital service visited, veterinarian training status, visit duration and urine culture performed. Among patients receiving any antimicrobial drugs, factors associated with receipt of WHO-WR ADP included hospital service, visit date, receipt of more than one ADP and history of a visit to any hospital service within the prior month.
Conclusions and relevance: These findings expand our understanding of antimicrobial usage in cats. This knowledge of identifying factors associated with antimicrobial use can be used to refine local prescribing practices and supports the development of veterinary and One Health antimicrobial stewardship initiatives and veterinary antimicrobial use benchmarking metrics.
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BibTeX
@article{thane2026factors,
title = {{Factors associated with antimicrobial drug prescription in cats receiving outpatient care at a veterinary teaching hospital}},
author = {Kristen Thane and Manlik Kwong and Ian DeStefano and Benjamin Sweigart and Kirthana Beaulac and Shira Doron and Claire L Fellman},
journal = {Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery},
year = {2026},
month = jul,
doi = {10.1177/1098612x261471153},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1177/1098612x261471153},
note = {CC BY-NC 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Factors associated with antimicrobial drug prescription in cats receiving outpatient care at a veterinary teaching hospital
AU - Kristen Thane
AU - Manlik Kwong
AU - Ian DeStefano
AU - Benjamin Sweigart
AU - Kirthana Beaulac
AU - Shira Doron
AU - Claire L Fellman
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/07/15
JO - Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery
DO - 10.1177/1098612x261471153
UR - https://doi.org/10.1177/1098612x261471153
AB - Objectives: Investigations of factors associated with antimicrobial drug prescription(s) (ADP) in cats receiving outpatient care are lacking, which limits antimicrobial stewardship efforts and benchmarking of veterinary antimicrobial use. This study aimed to identify factors associated with ADP in cats receiving outpatient care at a veterinary teaching hospital. Methods: A retrospective analysis of electronic medical record data from cats receiving outpatient care at a veterinary teaching hospital in 2022 was performed. Subjects included 2245 cats with 3973 outpatient visits. The primary study outcome was receipt of at least one systemic ADP during or immediately after an outpatient visit; an exploratory outcome was receipt of a ‘Watch’ or ‘Reserve’ (WR) ADP using the World Health Organization (WHO) Access-Watch-Reserve (AWaRe) classification adapted to include veterinary agents. Independent variables, including patient demographics, hospital service and owner sociodemographic factors, were identified for model fitting using univariable logistic regression; multivariable models were built using generalized estimating equations. Results: Of outpatient visit records, 367/3973 (9.2%) were associated with one or more ADP. Factors significantly associated with receipt of ADP included patient sex, hospital service visited, veterinarian training status, visit duration and urine culture performed. Among patients receiving any antimicrobial drugs, factors associated with receipt of WHO-WR ADP included hospital service, visit date, receipt of more than one ADP and history of a visit to any hospital service within the prior month. Conclusions and relevance: These findings expand our understanding of antimicrobial usage in cats. This knowledge of identifying factors associated with antimicrobial use can be used to refine local prescribing practices and supports the development of veterinary and One Health antimicrobial stewardship initiatives and veterinary antimicrobial use benchmarking metrics.
SN - 1098-612X
SN - 1532-2750
ER -