Antibiotics remain an important part of veterinary medicine, supporting the treatment of bacterial infections and protecting animal health and welfare. Preserving their effectiveness depends on appropriate selection and responsible use.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a One Health issue, with resistant bacteria able to spread between animals, people and the environment. Responsible antibiotic use therefore requires consideration of both the clinical needs of the animal and the wider principles of antimicrobial stewardship.

So, where does amoxicillin, the active antibiotic in RedyMox, fit within responsible veterinary antibiotic use?

Understanding the EMA antibiotic categories

The European Medicines Agency’s Antimicrobial Advice Ad Hoc Expert Group (AMEG) categorises antibiotics according to the potential consequences to public health of increased antimicrobial resistance when used in animals, alongside the need for their use in veterinary medicine.

The four categories are:

Category A – Avoid
Antibiotics in this category are not authorised as veterinary medicines in the EU and should not be used in food-producing animals.

Category B – Restrict
These antibiotics are critically important in human medicine. Their use in animals should be restricted and considered only when antibiotics in Categories C or D would not be clinically effective.

Category C – Caution
These antibiotics should be considered when there is no Category D antibiotic that could be clinically effective.

Category D – Prudence
These antibiotics should be used as first-line treatments whenever possible, while being used prudently and only when medically needed.

Where does amoxicillin fit?

RedyMox 150 mg/ml contains amoxicillin trihydrate and is a short-acting suspension for injection.

The EMA categorises aminopenicillins without beta-lactamase inhibitors, including amoxicillin, ampicillin and metampicillin, as Category D – Prudence antibiotics.

This classification is relevant when considering antimicrobial stewardship and appropriate antibiotic selection. Category D antibiotics should be used as first-line treatments whenever possible, while only being used when medically necessary and always with prudence.

The categorisation also distinguishes aminopenicillins used alone from those combined with beta-lactamase inhibitors. Aminopenicillins in combination with beta-lactamase inhibitors, including amoxicillin with clavulanic acid, are classified as Category C – Caution.

Responsible antibiotic use goes beyond antibiotic selection

The EMA categorisation supports veterinary decision-making but does not replace clinical judgement or appropriate treatment guidelines.

Prescribing decisions should also take into account the Summary of Product Characteristics (SPC), clinical presentation, restrictions relating to food-producing species, regional variations in disease and antimicrobial resistance, and national prescribing policies.

The EMA also advises that unnecessary use, overly long treatment periods and under-dosing should be avoided, while group treatment should be restricted to situations where individual treatment is not feasible.

Responsible antibiotic use is therefore not simply about which antibiotic is selected, but also when, why and how it is used.

Does route of administration matter?

Route of administration should also be considered alongside antibiotic categorisation.

The EMA ranks routes of administration and formulations from the lowest to highest estimated impact on antimicrobial resistance. Local individual treatment is ranked lowest, followed by parenteral individual treatment and oral individual treatment, with group medication ranked subsequently.

This provides an additional consideration when selecting an appropriate antibiotic treatment for an individual animal.

Where does RedyMox fit?

RedyMox 150 mg/ml is a short-acting amoxicillin suspension for injection for cattle, sheep, pigs, dogs and cats.

It is indicated for the treatment of infections of the alimentary tract, respiratory tract, urogenital tract, skin and soft tissue caused by bacteria susceptible to amoxicillin.

As an aminopenicillin without a beta-lactamase inhibitor, amoxicillin is classified as Category D – Prudence within the EMA framework.

Where amoxicillin is clinically appropriate, RedyMox therefore provides a short-acting injectable treatment option. Treatment decisions should always be based on clinical need, product information and veterinary judgement.

Supporting responsible antibiotic use

Responsible antibiotic use is fundamental to preserving the effectiveness of these medicines for animal and human health.

The EMA categorisation provides veterinary professionals with a practical framework to support antibiotic selection. For amoxicillin, its Category D – Prudence classification supports its use as a first-line treatment whenever possible, while reinforcing the need for prudent, medically necessary use.

For more information on RedyMox 150 mg/ml, the short-acting Amoxicillin trihydrate 150mg/ml solution for injection used for the treatment of infections of the alimentary tract, respiratory tract, urogenital tract, skin and soft tissue caused by bacteria susceptible to amoxicillin go to RedyMox.

Written by Forte Healthcare technical team.