Overview of the use of antimicrobial drugs for the treatment of bacterial infections in horses

The use of antimicrobials in veterinary medicine is under great scrutiny with the emergence of antimicrobial resistance in the human population. Equine veterinarians rely on antimicrobials as an essential tool for the treatment of infections in horses, but there is much criticism of some use, particularly prophylaxis. While the appropriate use of antimicrobials can be justified in equine medicine, the misuse cannot. The definition of appropriate use is complex and involves the indication for therapy, antimicrobial selection, dosing regimen and timing and route of administration, duration of therapy and modification of therapy based on microbial susceptibility and clinical response. The aim of this article is to provide guidance on these factors to assist equine veterinarians in determining what constitutes appropriate antimicrobial use in horses.     

Surviving the Transition

Summary

Community-based stewardship forestry (CBSF) on public lands in the United States is still a fledgling concept. Neither the number of projects completed nor the length of time that has passed since their initial implementation has been sufficient to draw definitive conclusions about the movement's success in improving economic, social, and environmental conditions in forest-dependent communities. What is of most concern now is whether the CBSF fledgling will have a chance to reach its full potential or will instead fall victim to organizational exhaustion, economic malnutrition, or political sniping. Experiences with stewardship collaboratives in northwest Montana have helped define 10 key factors CBSF groups must effectively address if they are to survive: (1) organizational burnout; (2) membership composition, expansion, diversification, and utilization; (3) change in organizational mission or focus; (4) financial viability; (5) responsiveness of federal decision makers to CBSF groups' legislative concerns; (6) continued skepticism among both industry and environmental communities; (7) movement from small demonstration projects to implementation on a larger scale; (8) need for procedural simplification; (9) outreach to the broader community; and (10) institutionalization of a meaningful role for communities in the natural resource policy making and management process. There are no simple solutions to these challenges, but the collective record of CBSF groups so far suggests a level of commitment and staying power sufficient to propel the fledgling through the transition and into full flight.     

Antimicrobial stewardship in equine practice

Antimicrobial stewardship involves the judicious use of antimicrobials balanced against the requirement to treat the presenting clinical condition. The same mandate and principles as discussed in human medicine and other veterinary disciplines are relevant to equine practice. This brief review will focus on available resources for equine practitioners, emerging perspectives on antimicrobial use and stewardship, and opportunities for more effective antimicrobial use in equine practice. There is a need for improved client education, availability of faster and more accurate techniques for identification and sensitivity testing of bacterial pathogens, and the development of novel agents.     

Antibiotic prophylaxis in veterinary cancer chemotherapy: A review and recommendations

Bacterial infection following cancer chemotherapy‐induced neutropenia is a serious cause of morbidity and mortality in human and veterinary patients. Antimicrobial prophylaxis is controversial in the human oncology field, as any decreased incidence in bacterial infections is countered by patient adverse effects and increased antimicrobial resistance. Comprehensive guidelines exist to aid human oncologists in prescribing antimicrobial prophylaxis but similar recommendations are not available in veterinary literature. As the veterinarian's role in antimicrobial stewardship is increasingly emphasized, it is vital that veterinary oncologists implement appropriate antimicrobial use. By considering the available human and veterinary literature we present an overview of current clinical practices and are able to suggest recommendations for prophylactic antimicrobial use in veterinary cancer chemotherapy patients.     

草场承包经营制度演进的经济绩效——基于内蒙古自治区的实证分析

为探讨草场承包经营制度的实施与演进对牧业经济绩效的影响机理,通过细化草场承包经营权,从草场使用权、转让权和收益权变化发展的角度进行理论分析。然后,基于生产函数模型,构建了反映草场承包经营制度演进对牧业产出变化影响的计量经济模型,并利用内蒙古自治区的相关数据进行了相应的实证检验。结果显示,在内蒙古地区实施草场承包经营制度的30余年来,草场使用权日趋稳定,草场转让权得以确认,草场经营收益权逐步完善,草场承包经营制度经历的这一系列演进发展对当地的畜牧业经济产出发挥了显著的正效应。     

农村土地承包经营权稳定与承包地调整的冲突及解决对策

土地承包经营制是具中国特色的一种土地利用制度,国家长期以来致力于在政策及法律上推进土地承包关系的稳定工作,并多次表示要在稳定的前提下继续完善现行土地承包经营制。但目前土地承包经营制运行中亟待解决的问题之一是承包地调整,土地承包经营权稳定与承包地调整成为土地承包经营制实施中的突出问题。本文对承包地调整的现状与原因,国家稳定土地承包经营权的努力及困境进行分析,并提出赋予农民土地永久使用权,深入推进土地承包权物权化进程作为解决土地承包经营权稳定与承包地调整冲突的解决对策。     

乌鲁木齐市城市林业建设现状及对策

乌鲁木齐市为加快城市生态建设步伐,采用荒山绿化承包管理新办法作为城市林业快速建设的新途径,8年共涉及20多万亩(1.33万hm2)绿化建设和开发建设,产生了巨大的生态效益、社会效益和经济效益。但是,同时也出现了很多问题,这些问题成为荒山绿化深入推进的障碍,城市林业建设也失去了可持续发展局面。文中介绍乌鲁木齐市的城市林业建设现状,分析存在的问题及产生的原因,提出初步的对策以及措施。