The emergence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus pseudintermedius (MRSP) presents a significant public health concern globally, particularly within veterinary medicine. MRSP’s resistance to multiple antibiotics is limiting treatment options and potentially leading to severe infections in companion animals. This study aimed to understand antimicrobial resistance in dogs and cats, focusing on MRSP resistance patterns and its prevalence in Germany. We analyzed results of bacterial diagnostic samples from canines and felines, sourced from a German veterinary diagnostic microbiology laboratory between 2019 and 2021. This dataset included samples from 3491 veterinary practices, covering 33.1% of veterinary practices and clinics in Germany. MRSP rates were detailed by host species, sample types and co-resistance patterns. Analysis of 175,171 bacterial examination results revealed S. pseudintermedius in 44,880 samples, yielding a 25.6% isolation rate. S. pseudintermedius was more prevalent in dogs (35.0%) than cats (3.6%). Methicillin resistance was found in 7.5% of all S. pseudintermedius isolates. MRSP prevalence was higher in feline samples (16.1%, 95% CI 14.4–17.8) compared to canine samples (7.1%, 95% CI 6.8–7.0). S. pseudintermedius showed high resistance rates to ampicillin (cats: 48.6%, dogs: 67.6%) and clindamycin (cats: 37.2%, dogs: 32.7%), while MRSP exhibited high co-resistance to clindamycin (cats: 82.8%, dogs: 85.4%) and sulfamethoxazole + trimethoprim (cats: 66.4%, dogs: 66.2%). Our study revealed distinct resistance patterns of MRSP in cats compared to dogs, highlighting the need for tailored treatment approaches and the importance of antimicrobial resistance surveillance.

Klebsiella (K.) pneumoniae is a major pathogen in human and veterinary medicine, known for its high resistance rates. Comprehensive resistance data are essential to combat global antibiotic resistance. This study aims to (a) document the prevalence of resistant K. pneumoniae and (b) assess the utility of routine laboratory data for passive monitoring. We analyzed a dataset of 175,171 samples from diseased dogs and cats in Germany collected between 2019 and 2021, identifying 1185 K. pneumoniae isolates with measurable minimum inhibitory concentration values. We evaluated resistance rates to a third-generation cephalosporin (cefovecin) (16.3%), chloramphenicol (16.1%), doxycycline (13.9%), enrofloxacin (8.9%), gentamicin (6.0%), nitrofurantoin (24.8%), and sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim (15.0%). Notably, feline K. pneumoniae isolates from the urinary tract showed a high cefovecin resistance rate of 70.0%. Comparing our findings with third-generation cephalosporin-resistant human isolates from the Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance database (ARS) maintained by the Robert Koch Institute revealed a lower resistance rate (7.7%). This study presents Germany’s most comprehensive dataset on K. pneumoniae resistance in companion animals over a three-year period. These findings can strengthen national resistance monitoring efforts and enhance data interpretation through substantial datasets.

Background/Objectives: While antibiotic usage in farm animals has been systematically monitored and reduced in many countries, including Germany, data on companion animals such as dogs and cats remain scarce. To address this gap, a study was conducted in Germany to analyze patterns of antibiotic use in dogs and cats. Methods: Antibiotic usage data were obtained from debevet, a cloud-based veterinary practice management software based in Berlin, Germany. Practices with fewer than 100 patients were excluded, and data from 2018 to 2022 were analyzed. Results: The analysis included 477,310 consultations of 78,381 dogs and 241,532 consultations of 55,729 cats across 133 veterinary practices. Antibiotics were used in 12.9% of dog consultations and 22.5% of cat consultations, with substantial variation across practices. Aminopenicillins, particularly amoxicillin, were the most commonly used antibiotics, while the highest-priority critically important antibiotics (HPCIAs) accounted for 12.4% of treatments. Follow-up treatments led to changes in antibiotic substances in 9.3% of cases, often within the first two days. Indications varied by species, with respiratory issues more frequent in cats and orthopedic problems in dogs. Body weight and breed characteristics influenced the likelihood of antibiotic treatment, with short-nosed breeds showing higher odds. Conclusions: The routine data analysis provided valuable insights into antibiotic use in dogs and cats, enabling tracking trends across species and indications over time. While some specific information was missing, the invoicing data’s completeness, the cost-effectiveness of their use, and their unbiased nature make them a robust tool for monitoring and informing legislative changes.

Background/Objectives: A mandatory monitoring of the use of antibiotics in horses in the European Union will come into force from 2027 on. The aim of the study was to explore the potential implementation of a monitoring system and to provide an overview of antibiotic use in horses in Germany. Methods: Data on all consultations from 57 German practices between 2018 and 2023 were obtained. The dataset included basic data about the horse, free-text diagnoses (allocated to one of 20 categories), and treatments. Information on the administered or dispensed pharmaceutical product was recorded for antibiotic treatment consultations. Results: This study analyzed 225,622 consultations with more than 50,000 horses. Antibiotics were administered in around 7% of consultations, but practice-specific rates varied considerably. Treatment was most frequent in ophthalmology cases. The most commonly used drug classes were sulfonamides combined with trimethoprim and aminopenicillins. Horses receiving antibiotics required follow-up visits more often than untreated animals, and changes in antibiotic substance occurred occasionally. Conclusions: Routine practice data provide valuable insights into antibiotic use in equine medicine. While incomplete entries and imprecise details (e.g., missing concentrations or diagnoses) remain a limitation, the approach offers clear advantages: it is cost-effective, allows large-scale data collection, and supports continuous monitoring over time. Such systems can be used to evaluate the effects of upcoming EU regulations and to identify priorities for antibiotic stewardship in equine practice.