Chapter 1. Design and Methods
Antimicrobial Classification
Categorization of Antimicrobials
Categories of antimicrobials used in this report were taken from the document Categorization of Antimicrobial Drugs Based on Importance in Human MedicineFootnote 66 by Health Canada's Veterinary Drugs Directorate (Table 6). Antimicrobials are considered to be of Very High Importance in Human Medicine (Category I) when they are essential for the treatment of serious bacterial infections and there is no or limited availability of alternative antimicrobials for effective treatment. These antimicrobials include amoxicillin-clavulanic acid, ceftiofurFootnote 67, ceftriaxone, ciprofloxacin, and telithromycin. Antimicrobials of High Importance in Human Medicine (Category II) consist of those that can be used to treat a variety of infections, including serious infections, and for which alternatives are generally available. Bacteria resistant to antimicrobials of this category are generally susceptible to Category I antimicrobials, which could be used as alternatives. Antimicrobials of Medium Importance in Human Medicine (Category III) are used in the treatment of bacterial infections for which alternatives are generally available. Infections caused by bacteria resistant to these antimicrobials can, in general, be treated with Category II or I antimicrobials. Antimicrobials of Low Importance in Human Medicine (Category IV) are currently not used in human medicine.
Category of importance in human medicine | Antimicrobial class | |
---|---|---|
I | Very High Importance | Carbapenems |
Cephalosporins – the third and fouth-generations | ||
Fluoroquinolones | ||
Glycopeptides | ||
Glycylcyclines | ||
Ketolides | ||
Lipopeptides | ||
Monobactams | ||
Nitroimidazoles (metronidazole) | ||
Oxazolidinones | ||
Penicillin-β-lactamase inhibitor combinations | ||
Polymyxins (colistin) | ||
Therapeutic agents for tuberculosis (e.g. ethambutol, isoniazid, pyrazinamide, and rifampin) | ||
II | High Importance | Aminoglycosides (except topical agents) |
Cephalosporins – the first and second-generations (including cephamycins) | ||
Fusidic acid | ||
Lincosamides | ||
Macrolides | ||
Penicillins | ||
Quinolones (except fluoroquinolones) | ||
Streptogramins | ||
Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole | ||
III | Medium Importance | Aminocyclitols |
Aminoglycosides (topical agents) | ||
Bacitracins | ||
Fosfomycin | ||
Nitrofurans | ||
Phenicols | ||
Sulfonamides | ||
Tetracyclines | ||
Trimethoprim | ||
IV | Low Importance | Flavophospholipols |
Ionophores |
ATCvet Class | Antimicrobial | |
---|---|---|
I | Third-generation cephalosporins (QJ01DD) | Ceftiofur (QJ01DD90) |
Fluoroquinolones | Enrofloxacin (QJ01MA90) | |
II | Amphenicols (QJ01BA) | Florfenicol (QJ01BA90) |
Penicillins with extended spectrum (QJ01CA) | Ampicillin (QJ01CA01) | |
Amoxicillin (QJ01CA04) | ||
ß-Lactamse sensitive penicilliins (QJ01CE) | Penicillin (QJ01CE01) | |
Combination of sulfadoxine and trimethoprim (QJ01EW) | Trimethoprim-sulfadoxine (QJ01EW13) | |
Macrolides (QJ01FA) | Erythromycin (QJ01FA01) | |
Tylosin (QJ01FA90) | ||
Tilmicosin (QJ01FA91) | ||
Tulathromycin (QJ01FA94) | ||
Lincosamides (QJ01FF) | Lincomycin (QJ01FF02) | |
Streptogramins (QJ01FG) | Virginiamycin (QJ01FG90) | |
Other aminoglycosides (QJ01GB) | Neomycin (QJ01GB05) | |
Combinations of antibacterials (QJ01RA) | Penicillin-streptomycin (QJ01RA01) | |
Chlortetracycline-sulfamethazine-penicillin (QJ01RA90) | ||
Oxytetracycline-neomycin (QJ01RA90) | ||
Tetracycline-neomycin (QJ01RA90) | ||
Lincomycin-spectinomycin (QJ01RA94) | ||
Other antibacterials (QJ01XX) | Spectinomycin (QJ01XX04) | |
III | Tetracyclines (QJ01AA) | Chlortetracycline (QJ01AA03) |
Oxytetracycline (QJ01AA06) | ||
Tetracycline (QJ01AA07) | ||
Chlortetracycline, combinations (QJ01AA53) | ||
Sulfonamides (QJ01EQ) | Combinations of sulfonamides (QJ01EQ30) | |
Pleuromutilins (QJ01XQ) | Tiamulin (QJ01XQ01) | |
Other antibacterials (QJ01XX) | Bacitracin (QJO1XX10) | |
IV | No ATCvet code | Bambermycin (No ATCvet code) |
Pyranes and hydropyranes (QP51AH) | Salinomycin (QP51AH01) |
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