Use of cefovecin in a UK population of cats attending first opinion practices as recorded in electronic health records

OBJECTIVE. To use electronic health records to describe the use of cefovecin (Convenia; Zoetis UK), a third generation long-acting injectable antimicrobial, in a UK population of cats attending first opinion practice and to compare the use of Convenia to the licenced uses described on the UK Convenia datasheet.
METHODS. Data were obtained as an excel database from the Small Animal Veterinary Surveillance Network for all feline consultations containing the word Convenia and/or cefovecin from 1st September 2012 to 23rd September 2013 inclusive. Entries were classified according to body system treated, confirmation or suspicion of an abscess, evidence of microbiological evaluation being performed, any concurrent therapies given, and whether any reason was given for use of Convenia over alternative antimicrobials. Data were exported to IBM SPSS Statistics and descriptive analysis performed.
RESULTS. In total, 1,148 entries were analysed. The most common body system treated was skin in 553 (48.2%) entries, then urinary (157, 13.7%) and respiratory (112, 9.8%). Microbiological evaluation was recorded in 193 (16.8%) entries, with visible purulent material most commonly cited in 147 (12.8%) entries. A reason for prescribing Convenia over alternative antimicrobials was given in 138 (12%) entries; the most cited was an inability to orally medicate the cat in 77 (55.8%) of these entries. The use of Convenia complied with a licenced use in the UK datasheet in 710 (69.8%) of entries.