Stewardship Seminar: Breaking Down Barriers to Sustainable Antimicrobial Use in Cats

2024-2025 Companion Animal Antimicrobial Stewardship and Infection Control Seminar Series presents:

Breaking Down Barriers to Sustainable Antimicrobial Use in Cats

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a One Health challenge that necessitates improved antimicrobial use across all sectors.  Existing recommendations support judicious antimicrobial use in companion animals including cats, but a range of individual and structural factors limit effective stewardship for feline veterinarians. In addition to challenges with diagnostics, perceived difficulty medicating cats and limited awareness of AMR can also lead to overuse of cefovecin, a critically important third generation cephalosporin.  This presentation by Dr. Amelia Greiner Safi and Dr. Casey Cazer covers findings from a study with both cat owners and veterinarians on the drivers of cefovecin overuse and outlines actionable solutions to improve antimicrobial use in cats.

Amelia Greiner Safi, MS, PhD, earned her PhD (2011) in Social and Behavior Sciences from Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health and her MS (2006) in Communication from Cornell University – with an emphasis on risk, science and health communication. She currently serves as Professor of Social and Behavioral Sciences and Public Health Practice in the Department of Public and Ecosystem Health at Cornell University. Dr Safi’s expertise spans five domains: 1) multilevel influences on health, 2) strategic public health communication, 3) health disparities 4) emerging disease threats and 5) implementation science. 

Casey Cazer, DVM, PhD, is an Assistant Professor of Epidemiology in the Departments of Clinical Sciences and Public and Ecosystem Health. She is a veterinary epidemiologist researching antimicrobial resistance and stewardship through a One Health lens. Her work encompasses statistical and machine learning models to improve antimicrobial resistance surveillance, and systems-based approaches to enhance antimicrobial stewardship in veterinary settings. She is also a practicing companion animal veterinarian and the Associate Hospital Director at Cornell’s Small Animal Community Practice, where she supports a student-centered and evidence-based learning experience for the next generation of veterinarians.  

This program has been approved for 1 hour of continuing education credit for veterinarians in jurisdictions that recognize RACE approval.