Task Force for Antimicrobial Stewardship in Companion Animal Practice

Charge

To develop practice guidelines for implementing antimicrobial stewardship in companion animal practice.
 

Membership

The membership will be 10 individuals.
 
Four members will be AVMA subject matter experts (appointed by the Appointing Body as described below) preferably knowledgeable in antimicrobial stewardship programs. The assembled team should have general companion animal practitioner experience as well as experience or advanced degrees in public health, infectious disease/epidemiology, antimicrobial resistance, or microbiology.
 
As a topic of extreme public health importance which crosses multiple agencies and organizations, in addition to the 4 subject matter experts selected from the AVMA membership, the following organizations will be invited to select and send a participant at the organizations’ expense:
 
  • American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA)
  • Canadian Veterinary Medical Association
  • Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA)
  • Animal Health Institute (AHI)
Invited representatives from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
 

Appointing Body

Will be composed of the following individuals (see below), who will appoint the Task Force:
 
  • Board of Directors Chair – Chair of the Appointing Body
  • President
  • President-Elect
  • Executive Vice President
  • Council on Public Health and Regulatory Veterinary Medicine Chair
  • Task Force Chair* (see Task Force Chair section)
Nominations will be solicited from the general membership and reviewed by the Appointing Body. The Appointing Body itself is not expected to recruit for the nominations, with the exception of the Task Force Chair. The Board of Directors and the House of Delegates may assist in encouraging nominations.  The Appointing Body will be authorized to hold conference calls as needed.
 
*Task Force Chair
The Appointing Body will consider nominations and appoint one individual to be the Task Force Chair. The Task Force chair would immediately join the Appointing Body to participate in the evaluation, interviews, and appointments of remaining members of the Task Force.
 

Meetings

The Task Force is authorized to hold up to three 3-day meetings at AVMA headquarters, and conference calls as needed over a twelve to eighteen month period.
 

Funding

Travel expenses are authorized in accordance with the AVMA Travel Policy for 4 AVMA subject matter experts.  The other 6 Task Force members will be funded by their respective organizations.  Further expenses for completing its charge must be requested in advance and approved by the Board of Directors.
 

Reports

After its first meeting, the Task Force will provide an initial report to the Board of Directors on its progress and/ or plan.  The Task Force may submit a recommendation for additional operational expenses needed to accomplish its charge. Upon completion of its charge, the Task Force will submit a final summary report and recommendations, no later than 20 months following the date of its first meeting to the Board of Directors.
 

Life Expectancy

The Task Force will be sunset following receipt of its summary report and recommendations by the Board of Directors.