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Abstract
Antibiotics are an important tool of treating bacterial diseases in human and veterinary medicine, but their irrational use leads to bacterial resistance, treatment failure, and a threat to public health. Objective: The aim of this article is to review the scientific basis of antibiotic therapy in order to provide effective and safe use of these drugs. Method: The information presented in this article was written by reviewing published scientific articles and reputable website Findings: The principle of selecting the appropriate antibiotic based on the causative agent, bacterial sensitivity testing before administering antibiotics, administering the appropriate dosage, completing the course of treatment, observing the period of prohibition of animal products during and after administering the drug, and understanding the physiological status of the patient play an important role in treatment, and compliance with it not only increases the success of treatment, but also plays a fundamental role in preventing the spread of bacterial resistance and maintaining public health. Therefore, training and accurate implementation of these principles for veterinarians and health workers is a serious and inevitable need.
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References
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- Belamarić, G., Vuković, D., Bukumirić, Z., Sandić Spaho, R., & Marković, G. (2025). Public Awareness and Perceptions of Antibiotic Use in Human and Veterinary Medicine in Serbia. Antibiotics, 14(5), 523. https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics14050523 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics14050523
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- Boothe, D. M. (2006b). Principles of Antimicrobial Therapy. Veterinary Clinics of North America: Small Animal Practice, 36(5), 1003–1047. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cvsm.2006.07.002 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cvsm.2006.07.002
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- Hutchings, M. I., Truman, A. W., & Wilkinson, B. (2019a). Antibiotics: Past, present and future. Current Opinion in Microbiology, 51, 72–80. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mib.2019.10.008
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- Leekha, S., Terrell, C. L., & Edson, R. S. (2011). General Principles of Antimicrobial Therapy. Mayo Clinic Proceedings, 86(2), 156–167. https://doi.org/10.4065/mcp.2010.0639 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4065/mcp.2010.0639
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- Nazir, Abubakar, Nazir, Awais, Zuhair, V., Aman, S., Sadiq, S. U. R., Hasan, A. H., Tariq, M., Rehman, L. U., Mustapha, M. J., & Bulimbe, D. B. (2025). The Global Challenge of Antimicrobial Resistance: Mechanisms, Case Studies, and Mitigation Approaches. Health Science Reports, 8(7), e71077. https://doi.org/10.1002/hsr2.71077 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/hsr2.71077
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- Patel, K., Bunachita, S., Agarwal, A. A., Bhamidipati, A., & Patel, U. K. (2021b). A Comprehensive Overview of Antibiotic Selection and the Factors Affecting It. Cureus. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.13925 DOI: https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.13925
- Patra, M., Gupta, A., Kumar, D., & Kumar, B. (2025). Antimicrobial Resistance: A Rising Global Threat to Public Health. Infection and Drug Resistance, Volume 18, 5419–5437. https://doi.org/10.2147/IDR.S530557 DOI: https://doi.org/10.2147/IDR.S530557
- Rahman, Md. M., Alam Tumpa, Mst. A., Zehravi, M., Sarker, Md. T., Yamin, Md., Islam, Md. R., Harun-Or-Rashid, Md., Ahmed, M., Ramproshad, S., Mondal, B., Dey, A., Damiri, F., Berrada, M., Rahman, Md. H., & Cavalu, S. (2022). An Overview of Antimicrobial Stewardship Optimization: The Use of Antibiotics in Humans and Animals to Prevent Resistance. Antibiotics, 11(5), 667. https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics11050667 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics11050667
- Spellberg, B., Hansen Consulting, Kar, A., Natural Resources Defense Council, Cordova, C. D., Natural Resources Defense Council, Price, L. B., George Washington University, Johnson, J. R., & University of Minnesota. (2016). Antibiotic Resistance in Humans and Animals. NAM Perspectives, 6(6). https://doi.org/10.31478/201606d DOI: https://doi.org/10.31478/201606d
- Ulldemolins, M., Roberts, J. A., Lipman, J., & Rello, J. (2011). Antibiotic Dosing in Multiple Organ Dysfunction Syndrome. Chest, 139(5), 1210–1220. https://doi.org/10.1378/chest.10-2371 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1378/chest.10-2371
- Van Den Bogaard, A. E., & Stobberingh, E. E. (1999). Antibiotic Usage in Animals: Impact on Bacterial Resistance and Public Health. Drugs, 58(4), 589–607. https://doi.org/10.2165/00003495-199958040-00002 DOI: https://doi.org/10.2165/00003495-199958040-00002
- Voigt, A. M., Zacharias, N., Timm, C., Wasser, F., Sib, E., Skutlarek, D., Parcina, M., Schmithausen, R. M., Schwartz, T., Hembach, N., Tiehm, A., Stange, C., Engelhart, S., Bierbaum, G., Kistemann, T., Exner, M., Faerber, H. A., & Schreiber, C. (2020a). Association between antibiotic residues, antibiotic resistant bacteria and antibiotic resistance genes in anthropogenic wastewater – An evaluation of clinical influences. Chemosphere, 241, 125032. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2019.125032
- Voigt, A. M., Zacharias, N., Timm, C., Wasser, F., Sib, E., Skutlarek, D., Parcina, M., Schmithausen, R. M., Schwartz, T., Hembach, N., Tiehm, A., Stange, C., Engelhart, S., Bierbaum, G., Kistemann, T., Exner, M., Faerber, H. A., & Schreiber, C. (2020b). Association between antibiotic residues, antibiotic resistant bacteria and antibiotic resistance genes in anthropogenic wastewater – An evaluation of clinical influences. Chemosphere, 241, 125032. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2019.125032 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2019.125032
- Weese, J. S., Giguère, S., Guardabassi, L., Morley, P. S., Papich, M., Ricciuto, D. R., & Sykes, J. E. (2015). ACVIM Consensus Statement on Therapeutic Antimicrobial Use in Animals and Antimicrobial Resistance. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine, 29(2), 487–498. https://doi.org/10.1111/jvim.12562 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/jvim.12562
- Wu, Danni, Shiting Dai, Haodi Feng and SHP Parakrama Karunaratne, et al. (2024). "Persistence and potential risks of tetracyclines and their transformation products in two typical different animal manure composting treatments." Environ Pollut 341: 122904. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2023.122904
- Zhou, Y., Li, Y., Zhang, L., Wu, Z., Huang, Y., Yan, H., Zhong, J., Wang, L.-J., Abdullah, H. M., & Wang, H. H. (2020). Antibiotic Administration Routes and Oral Exposure to Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria as Key Drivers for Gut Microbiota Disruption and Resistome in Poultry. Frontiers in Microbiology, 11, 1319. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2020.01319. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2020.01319
References
Agarwal, R., Mubeen, M., & Singh, H. (2023). Irrational use of antibiotics without a clinical diagnosis: A short case report. African Health Sciences, 23(2), 219–223. https://doi.org/10.4314/ahs.v23i2.24 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4314/ahs.v23i2.24
Arsène MMJ, Davares AKL, Viktorovna PI, Andreevna SL, Sarra S, Khelifi I, Sergueïevna DM (2022). The public health issue of antibiotic residues in food and feed: Causes, consequences, and potential solutions. Vet World. 2022 Mar; 15(3):662-671. doi: 10.14202/vetworld.2022.662-671. Epub 2022 Mar 23. PMID: 35497952; PMCID: PMC9047141. DOI: https://doi.org/10.14202/vetworld.2022.662-671
Belamarić, G., Vuković, D., Bukumirić, Z., Sandić Spaho, R., & Marković, G. (2025). Public Awareness and Perceptions of Antibiotic Use in Human and Veterinary Medicine in Serbia. Antibiotics, 14(5), 523. https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics14050523 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics14050523
Bognár, B., Spohn, R. & Lázár, V. (2024) Drug combinations targeting antibiotic resistance. npj Antimicrob Resist 2, 29. https://doi.org/10.1038/s44259-024-00047-2 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s44259-024-00047-2
Boothe, D. M. (2006a). Principles of Antimicrobial Therapy. Veterinary Clinics of North America: Small Animal Practice, 36(5), 1003–1047. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cvsm.2006.07.002
Boothe, D. M. (2006b). Principles of Antimicrobial Therapy. Veterinary Clinics of North America: Small Animal Practice, 36(5), 1003–1047. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cvsm.2006.07.002 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cvsm.2006.07.002
Faruk MAR, Shorna HK, Anka IZ (2021). Use and impact of veterinary drugs, antimicrobials, and supplements in fish health management. J Adv Vet Anim Res. 2021 Mar 58(1), 36-43. doi: 10.5455/javar. PMID: 33860010; PMCID: PMC8043347. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5455/javar.2021.h482
Hossain, Md. J., Jabin, N., Ahmmed, F., Sultana, A., Abdur Rahman, S. M., & Islam, Md. R. (2023). Irrational use of antibiotics and factors associated with antibiotic resistance: Findings from a cross‐sectional study in Bangladesh. Health Science Reports, 6(8), e1465. https://doi.org/10.1002/hsr2.1465 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/hsr2.1465
Hutchings, M. I., Truman, A. W., & Wilkinson, B. (2019a). Antibiotics: Past, present and future. Current Opinion in Microbiology, 51, 72–80. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mib.2019.10.008
Hutchings, M. I., Truman, A. W., & Wilkinson, B. (2019b). Antibiotics: Past, present and future. Current Opinion in Microbiology, 51, 72–80. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mib.2019.10.008 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mib.2019.10.008
Leekha, S., Terrell, C. L., & Edson, R. S. (2011). General Principles of Antimicrobial Therapy. Mayo Clinic Proceedings, 86(2), 156–167. https://doi.org/10.4065/mcp.2010.0639 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4065/mcp.2010.0639
Moon, C., & Wi, Y. M. (2025). Impact of antibiotic treatment and predictors for subsequent infections in multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa catheter-associated asymptomatic bacteriuria. American Journal of Infection Control, 53(5), 607–611. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajic.2025.01.015 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajic.2025.01.015
Nazir, Abubakar, Nazir, Awais, Zuhair, V., Aman, S., Sadiq, S. U. R., Hasan, A. H., Tariq, M., Rehman, L. U., Mustapha, M. J., & Bulimbe, D. B. (2025). The Global Challenge of Antimicrobial Resistance: Mechanisms, Case Studies, and Mitigation Approaches. Health Science Reports, 8(7), e71077. https://doi.org/10.1002/hsr2.71077 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/hsr2.71077
Patel, K., Bunachita, S., Agarwal, A. A., Bhamidipati, A., & Patel, U. K. (2021a). A Comprehensive Overview of Antibiotic Selection and the Factors Affecting It. Cureus. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.13925
Patel, K., Bunachita, S., Agarwal, A. A., Bhamidipati, A., & Patel, U. K. (2021b). A Comprehensive Overview of Antibiotic Selection and the Factors Affecting It. Cureus. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.13925 DOI: https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.13925
Patra, M., Gupta, A., Kumar, D., & Kumar, B. (2025). Antimicrobial Resistance: A Rising Global Threat to Public Health. Infection and Drug Resistance, Volume 18, 5419–5437. https://doi.org/10.2147/IDR.S530557 DOI: https://doi.org/10.2147/IDR.S530557
Rahman, Md. M., Alam Tumpa, Mst. A., Zehravi, M., Sarker, Md. T., Yamin, Md., Islam, Md. R., Harun-Or-Rashid, Md., Ahmed, M., Ramproshad, S., Mondal, B., Dey, A., Damiri, F., Berrada, M., Rahman, Md. H., & Cavalu, S. (2022). An Overview of Antimicrobial Stewardship Optimization: The Use of Antibiotics in Humans and Animals to Prevent Resistance. Antibiotics, 11(5), 667. https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics11050667 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics11050667
Spellberg, B., Hansen Consulting, Kar, A., Natural Resources Defense Council, Cordova, C. D., Natural Resources Defense Council, Price, L. B., George Washington University, Johnson, J. R., & University of Minnesota. (2016). Antibiotic Resistance in Humans and Animals. NAM Perspectives, 6(6). https://doi.org/10.31478/201606d DOI: https://doi.org/10.31478/201606d
Ulldemolins, M., Roberts, J. A., Lipman, J., & Rello, J. (2011). Antibiotic Dosing in Multiple Organ Dysfunction Syndrome. Chest, 139(5), 1210–1220. https://doi.org/10.1378/chest.10-2371 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1378/chest.10-2371
Van Den Bogaard, A. E., & Stobberingh, E. E. (1999). Antibiotic Usage in Animals: Impact on Bacterial Resistance and Public Health. Drugs, 58(4), 589–607. https://doi.org/10.2165/00003495-199958040-00002 DOI: https://doi.org/10.2165/00003495-199958040-00002
Voigt, A. M., Zacharias, N., Timm, C., Wasser, F., Sib, E., Skutlarek, D., Parcina, M., Schmithausen, R. M., Schwartz, T., Hembach, N., Tiehm, A., Stange, C., Engelhart, S., Bierbaum, G., Kistemann, T., Exner, M., Faerber, H. A., & Schreiber, C. (2020a). Association between antibiotic residues, antibiotic resistant bacteria and antibiotic resistance genes in anthropogenic wastewater – An evaluation of clinical influences. Chemosphere, 241, 125032. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2019.125032
Voigt, A. M., Zacharias, N., Timm, C., Wasser, F., Sib, E., Skutlarek, D., Parcina, M., Schmithausen, R. M., Schwartz, T., Hembach, N., Tiehm, A., Stange, C., Engelhart, S., Bierbaum, G., Kistemann, T., Exner, M., Faerber, H. A., & Schreiber, C. (2020b). Association between antibiotic residues, antibiotic resistant bacteria and antibiotic resistance genes in anthropogenic wastewater – An evaluation of clinical influences. Chemosphere, 241, 125032. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2019.125032 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2019.125032
Weese, J. S., Giguère, S., Guardabassi, L., Morley, P. S., Papich, M., Ricciuto, D. R., & Sykes, J. E. (2015). ACVIM Consensus Statement on Therapeutic Antimicrobial Use in Animals and Antimicrobial Resistance. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine, 29(2), 487–498. https://doi.org/10.1111/jvim.12562 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/jvim.12562
Wu, Danni, Shiting Dai, Haodi Feng and SHP Parakrama Karunaratne, et al. (2024). "Persistence and potential risks of tetracyclines and their transformation products in two typical different animal manure composting treatments." Environ Pollut 341: 122904. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2023.122904
Zhou, Y., Li, Y., Zhang, L., Wu, Z., Huang, Y., Yan, H., Zhong, J., Wang, L.-J., Abdullah, H. M., & Wang, H. H. (2020). Antibiotic Administration Routes and Oral Exposure to Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria as Key Drivers for Gut Microbiota Disruption and Resistome in Poultry. Frontiers in Microbiology, 11, 1319. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2020.01319. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2020.01319