Dear Colleagues,

 

Following the very successful conference that was held in Madrid in September 2022, we are excited to announce the Twelfth International Conference on Antimicrobial Agents in Veterinary Medicine (AAVM), to be held June 16-19, 2024 in Athens, Greece. This forthcoming conference follows the success of the past eleven AAVM conferences held in Helsinki, Ottawa, Orlando, Prague, Tel Aviv, Washington DC, Berlin, Budapest, Rome and Madrid, as well as one held online during the COVID lockdown period.

Antimicrobials are still critically important and necessary in farm and companion animal therapy, notwithstanding the increased attention and measures to promote an overall reduced and responsible use. The risk for the spread of bacterial resistance when antimicrobials are used is well known, and the interconnection of use of animal and human antimicrobials further increases the concern for human and animal health. Alternatives to these drugs are increasing, but still not routinely available. Veterinary medicine has to deal with the increasing requirement of antimicrobial use reduction, the lack of valid alternatives and a more prudent and updated use of antimicrobials for therapy. These aspects and many others, such as, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, PK/PD modelling, antimicrobial resistance, residues, analytical methods, clinical trials, environmental impact, etc. are the forefront topics of the AAVM program. This year, the conference will focus not only on antimicrobial, but also on alternatives: Antimicrobial and alternative medicine for the treatment of infectious diseases.

Antibiotic resistance is amplified by the misusage and overuse of antibiotics, as well as poor infection prevention and control. Steps can be taken to limit the transmission of resistance, and also to prevent and control the spread of infections and the application of stewardship to antimicrobial use can efficiently preserve and extend antimicrobial efficacy. Research on new and alternative antimicrobial molecules, early detection of diseases, biosecurity and control measures for infections in intensive farms, antimicrobial stewardship and treatment optimization will be in the spotlight for the upcoming AAVM conference as well.

Accurate and rapid diagnostics has been identified as an essential pillar by the World Health Organization for appropriate antimicrobial use along with supporting Antimicrobial Stewardship and Infection Prevention and Control programs.  Additionally, Laboratory Stewardship has also emerged as an essential program for replacing low value testing with high value testing to ensure optimal patient care. The role of rapid and Point-of-Care diagnostic technology continues to expand and reduces turn-around-time for clinically important results influencing appropriate antimicrobial use.

We encourage debates and discussion between the presenters, discussants, and participants. AAVM Conference is confirmed as one of the leading meetings in its field, providing a very intensive program and encourages discussion among the attendees.

We look forward to welcoming you to Athens.

 

Sincerely,

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