Animal keepers and veterinarians, attention! Support can be applied for carrying out resistance tests

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Bacterial infections resistant to antibiotic treatment pose a significant public and animal health risk. In addition, untreatable or difficult-to-treat diseases can also cause economic damage to livestock, which is why professionally based medical treatment of infections is essential. Laboratory sensitivity tests help to select the right active ingredient to combat the pathogens that cause the disease, with which targeted therapy can be carried out.

Some active substances can only be used after these tests in order to protect public health

Based on the regulation governing veterinary medicinal products1, from the point of view of human health, the so-called critically important antibiotics (3rd-4th generation cephalosporins, fluoroquinolones, colistin) can only be used for the treatment of food-producing animals if there is a resistance test result or a colony resistance map.

From January 1, 2023, in accordance with the above, the Ministry of Agriculture created the possibility of subsidized resistance tests

In the case of food-producing animals of small animal farms, the contribution covers sampling, laboratory bacteriological examination and carrying out the sensitivity test, based on the conditions and up to the amount specified in the decree. A subsidy of HUF 1,500 per farm can be applied for after sampling the first individual, HUF 100 for each additional individual and after environmental sampling. The costs of the bacteriological examination can be subsidized up to HUF 3,500. If the disc diffusion method is used, the eligible cost is HUF 2,000, while the MIC (minimum inhibitory concentration) test is HUF 10,000. The tests can be performed in any licensed domestic animal health laboratory, where it is possible to use the listed methods. For animal keepers and service veterinarians, financial support is a great opportunity, with which, in addition to protecting public and animal health, they can also contribute to economical medical treatments and the reduction of infectious diseases.

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