Table 2 Challenges encountered in using VetStat data to estimate antimicrobial sales data in Danish companion animals
Data entry | Data extraction | Analysis and interpretation of raw data |
|---|---|---|
Only treatment data from livestock are transferred to VetStat | Data from several animal group codes may be necessary when assessing AMUa in one species | Knowledge of the nature of data and construction of the database is necessary |
Missing or faulty recordings of Danish veterinary practice or authorization numbers | Raw data from a specific animal group code may contain sales data for other species than those relevant for the group code in question | Calculation of sales data from several animal group codes may be necessary |
The database does not receive treatment data for companion animals | Interpretation of raw data from only one group code may lead to faulty conclusions | |
Information on animal species (animal group code) are not recorded for antimicrobials sold to veterinary practitioners |