To contain the development of resistance to antimicrobials and to ensure the efficacy of so-called "highest priority critically important antimicrobials" (HPCIA), the Tierarztliche Hausapotheken Verordnung (TAHAV) was amended in 2018, thus introducing a requirement for susceptibility testing if antibiotics of the groups cephalosporins of the third and fourth generation and fluoroquinolones are to be used. The present study investigated the influence of this amendment on the use and handling of antimicrobials in small animal medicine and the development of resistance in selected diseases as perceived by practicing veterinarians. For this purpose, 73 veterinarians from Berlin were interviewed about their use of antibiotics in dogs and cats in general, as well as specifically regarding the diseases otitis externa, pyoderma, bite wound and cystitis. The survey was conducted qualitatively as an interview. The written recordings were then evaluated following Mayring's method. Veterinarians used antimicrobials in 20% (median) of the treatments of dogs and cats. The group of aminopenicillins was used most frequently and the groups of HPCIA least frequently. 58% (41/71) of veterinarians reported performing susceptibility testing more frequently since the 2018 amendment to the TAHAV. Susceptibility tests had to be requested particularly frequent for otitis and cystitis to make an adequate therapy decision. However, participants did not note increased resistance to antimicrobial drugs for the disease otitis externa (66%, 46/70), as well as for pyoderma (76%, 54/71), bite wounds (89%, 65/73), and cystitis (70%, 49/70). Most of the participants believed there was no need for a legal obligation to use antimicrobials responsibly. Even though it was clearly stated several times during the interview that HPCIA are among the least frequently used antimicrobials in everyday practice since the amendment. Since more than half of the participants indicated a change in their testing behaviour and use of HPCIA, a influence of the TAHAV amendment can be assumed.
