4.3 Diagnostic stewardship in animal health

For a comprehensive review of laboratory methods for AMR look at: module E – Isolating and identifying bacteria; module F – Antimicrobial susceptibility testing; module G – Testing for mechanisms of resistance; and module H – Quality assurance and AMR surveillance.

Diagnostics are an important part of any health system. Without laboratory and pathology services, we would struggle to diagnose diseases, select the best treatment options, predict prognoses and monitor disease progression.

Diagnostic testing is a critical element of AMS. Diagnostic tests help to reduce antimicrobial use by:

• determining if a bacterium or another pathogen causes disease – if bacteria do not cause the disease, then the animal does not need antibiotics
• determining to which antimicrobials the bacteria are resistant or susceptible, allowing prescribers to select the most appropriate antimicrobial to use.