# A Pilot Study of Veterinary Antifungal Use and Resistance in Support of Vet-LIRN's Antimicrobial Stewardship Efforts

> **NIH FDA U18** · UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA · 2024 · $81,250

## Abstract

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a significant global health concern with implications for both human and animal
health. Worldwide deaths attributed to AMR are predicted to rise to potentially 10 million people annually by
2050. The actions and policies taken to combat the emergence of AMR and prevent the inappropriate use of
antimicrobial drugs are collectively known as antimicrobial stewardship (AMS). Most efforts to characterize AMR
and develop AMS strategies have been focused on bacterial pathogens in people; however, resistance to
antimicrobial drugs has also emerged among other microbial pathogens including viruses and fungi. Antifungal
use and resistance likely play a role in veterinary antimicrobial stewardship but there is a paucity of information,
despite the increase of resistant fungi as a public health threat. The first goal of the proposed work is to develop
and implement an online survey of companion animal veterinarians working in both general and specialty/referral
animal hospitals. The survey will assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of veterinarians on the
following: a) emergence of antifungal resistance, b) risk factors for infection and colonization with fungi, c)
diagnosis of fungal infections and current state of antifungal susceptibility testing in veterinary medicine, and d)
antifungal drug prescribing and stewardship in companion animal medicine. We will also assess whether
antifungal resistant organisms or infections are common among animals by collecting important data on carriage
and antifungal resistance rates of Candida sp. in dogs and evaluating clinical outcomes of dogs prescribed
antifungal drugs. Enrolled dogs will have samples collected from multiple anatomic sites and cultured for Candida
yeasts, and confirmed isolates will have antifungal susceptibility testing performed. Additionally, dogs prescribed
antifungal drugs for fungal otitis externa and dermatitis will be analyzed at follow-up visits to establish rates of
clinical, cytologic, and culture resolution for both clinical syndromes. This proposal is highly relevant to current
One Health and antimicrobial stewardship efforts and priorities of the FDA. Data will have implications for efforts
focused on raising awareness of antifungal use and resistance among veterinary practitioners, developing
educational tools to improve antimicrobial stewardship programs, and informing design of future research
studies. The proposed work will lay the groundwork to prevent the spread of antifungal resistant organisms
among companion animals and to the people who work and live with them.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 11072290
- **Project number:** 1U18FD008363-01
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA
- **Principal Investigator:** Stephen Douglas Cole
- **Activity code:** U18 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** FDA
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $81,250
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2024-08-01 → 2026-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/11072290

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 11072290, A Pilot Study of Veterinary Antifungal Use and Resistance in Support of Vet-LIRN's Antimicrobial Stewardship Efforts (1U18FD008363-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/11072290. Licensed CC0.

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