This program has been approved for 3.5 hours of continuing education credit in jurisdictions which recognize RACE Approval. (20-851291)

Antimicrobial resistance is an increasing problem in both human and veterinary medicine. Whenever an antimicrobial is used, it inadvertently selects for resistance by killing or inhibiting sensitive bacteria and leaving behind resistant organisms. As a result, medicines become ineffective and infections persist, increasing hospital times, cost and morbidity. Inappropriate antibiotic use can lead to superbugs that are difficult or impossible to treat with our current antibiotic options. This course will discuss the mechanisms of antimicrobial resistance, the use of "best" practices to avoid the emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance.

To earn a certificate of completion the participant must complete all learning modules and score 80% or better on the end-of-course test. Completion of the course will take a minimum of 210 minutes. Participants must complete the participation requirements by April 30, 2026 to be eligible for a certificate.

To learn more about the requirements for earning a Self Study CE certificate, please refer to Self Study CE Certificate Requirements.

Learning Objectives:
Upon completion of the course, the participant should be able to

• understand the importance of preventing antimicrobial resistance.
• describe what resistance (including multi-drug resistance) is, how and why it occurs, and when antimicrobial use is required.
• explain empirical vs rational choice of antimicrobials.
• explain how to get the most information out of an MIC (Minimum Inhibitory Concentration) result.
• identify when and which antimicrobials are appropriate for small animal diseases, including the following scenarios.
  • perioperative antibiotic use
  • urinary tract infections
  • miscellaneous infectious diseases

Level and Prerequisites: This basic VIN CE self-study course is open for enrollment to veterinarians and veterinary students actively interested in antimicrobial resistance stewardship. This course is open to VIN members only.

Successful completion (scoring 80% or better) on the end-of-course test is required to earn a certificate of completion for the course. To learn more about the requirements for earning a CE certificate, please refer to Receiving Your CE Credit and Course Completion Certificate.

Module 1: What is Antimicrobial Resistance?
Total Time: 90 minutes
Video: 90 minutes

Module 2: What to Choose for Specific Diseases
Total Time: 105 minutes
Video: 105 minutes

Module 3: End of Course Test
Total Time: 15 minutes
Successful completion (scoring 80% or better) on the end-of-course test is required to earn a certificate of completion for the course.

Module 4: Course Evaluation

To learn more about the requirements for earning a Self Study CE certificate, please refer to Self Study CE Certificate Requirements.