The Growing AMR Challenge in Latin America
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has emerged as one of the most critical health threats in both human and veterinary medicine. In the Latin American region, widespread antibiotic access, inconsistent treatment compliance, and limited diagnostic resources have accelerated resistance, complicating treatment options for everyday clinical cases.
At the WSAVA Congress 2025 in Rio de Janeiro, Bioguard engaged with veterinary experts from Paraguay to explore how resistance is affecting regional clinical practice and how new diagnostic tools, the miniAST Veterinary Antibiotic Susceptibility Test Analyzer, can help veterinarians make evidence based treatment decisions faster.
Insights from Paraguayan Veterinary Experts
Dr. Carlos Cabrera, a veterinarian specializing in oncology and cytology, emphasized that antimicrobial resistance is already a major regional health concern.
Antibiotic resistance is becoming extremely important. Around 10 million people die each year due to antibiotic resistance, and in the next 15 to 20 years this number could rise to 39 million.
He explained that resistant infections increasingly complicate therapy in routine cases, underscoring the urgency of adopting faster diagnostic approaches.
He emphasized the value of rapid antimicrobial susceptibility testing:
miniAST gives us a quick solution about which antibiotic to use, helping us avoid those that are resistant. It allows us to make treatment decisions based on evidence, not assumption.
Dr. Fabián Velázquez, a small animal veterinarian from San Lorenzo, Paraguay, described the real world challenges of AMR in clinical practice.
When we perform an antibiogram culture, we see very high levels of resistance. Sometimes we hesitate because we don’t know which antibiotic will work, or we need to start combining drugs. It is extremely concerning.
He also highlighted the broad clinical utility of rapid AST:
miniAST will help me every day in the clinic. It allows us to focus our diagnosis and treatment much better.
He emphasized the broad utility of rapid diagnostics across multiple clinical areas:
I can use it in dentistry, dermatology, traumatic surgery, even cavity infections. It will help daily and in a very short time.
Both veterinarians agreed: rapid AST tools are not only convenient, they are becoming essential for accurate therapy, reduced empirical prescribing, and minimizing treatment failures.
AMR in Latin America: The Regional Picture
According to data from the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), resistance rates among pathogens such as Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Klebsiella pneumoniae have been steadily increasing across Latin America.
In veterinary medicine, this trend poses a direct threat to animal health, especially in regions with limited laboratory capacity and where empirical treatment remains common.
Key factors driving AMR in Latin America include:
- Widespread availability of antibiotics without prescription
- Limited surveillance of regional bacterial resistance
- Delayed diagnostic confirmation in clinical cases
- Overlapping antibiotic use in both human and veterinary sectors
This creates a dangerous feedback loop in which the lack of diagnostic testing leads to greater reliance on empirical therapy, driving increased resistance and ultimately resulting in more frequent treatment failures.
Dr. Cabrera captured this concern clearly:
When we treat animals without knowing the bacterial profile, we risk worsening resistance. It’s not just a veterinary issue, it’s a public health issue.
One Health Approach: miniAST as a Diagnostic Bridge
The One Health initiative emphasizes the interdependence of human, animal, and environmental health. Veterinarians play a crucial role by ensuring antibiotics are used responsibly and only when supported by diagnostic evidence.
By providing rapid, clinic based AST, miniAST bridges the diagnostic gap between clinical need and laboratory confirmation. It strengthens evidence based therapy, reduces unnecessary antibiotic exposure, and supports regional AMR surveillance efforts.
Dr. Velázquez described the broader potential:
If we could test every infection this way, we would reduce unnecessary antibiotic exposure. It would help veterinarians, owners, and even policymakers understand how to control resistance in our region.
About the miniAST Veterinary AST Analyzer
The Bioguard miniAST Veterinary Antibiotic Susceptibility Test Analyzer is an automated system designed specifically for veterinary antimicrobial susceptibility testing.
It provides:
- Categorical susceptibility results (susceptible, intermediate, resistant)
- Automated interpretation to minimize human error
- Results within approximately six hours, enabling same day therapeutic adjustments
- Standardized, reproducible data to guide confident antibiotic selection
By shortening the time between diagnosis and targeted therapy, miniAST helps veterinary clinics avoid unnecessary or ineffective antibiotic use, supporting responsible antimicrobial stewardship and improving clinical outcomes.
References
- Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). Antimicrobial Resistance in the Americas: Epidemiological Update 2021–2022. Washington, DC.
- World Health Organization (WHO). Global Antimicrobial Resistance and Use Surveillance System (GLASS) Report 2022. Geneva: WHO.
- PAHO. One Health and Antimicrobial Resistance Technical Brief. 2022.
- Rodríguez-Medina N, et al. “Antimicrobial Resistance in Latin America: Current Status and Challenges.” Journal of Global Antimicrobial Resistance. 2021.
- López-Jiménez L, et al. “Antibiotic Use and Resistance in Latin America: A Systematic Review.” Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology. 2020.
The miniAST Veterinary Antibiotic Susceptibility Test Analyzer, a tool designed to help combat antimicrobial resistance with game-changing features:
| Feature | Benefit |
| Fast Results | Get results in just 6 hours, enabling swift and confident treatment. |
| Automated Interpretations | Instantly deliver precise susceptibility profiles, supporting faster, more informed clinical decisions and optimizing patient care. |
| Dual-Sample Testing | Double the efficiency with simultaneous analysis of two samples at once. |
| High Accuracy | Achieve an impressive 92% accuracy rate compared to traditional disc diffusion tests. |
📌 Note for Veterinarians:
The miniAST Veterinary Antibiotic Susceptibility Test Analyzer is available exclusively to licensed veterinarians and veterinary hospitals.
📩 How to Order miniAST
To purchase miniAST or request a quotation, please contact our sales team or email our customer service:
📧 service@bioguardlabs.com
☎️ Please include your hospital name and contact number so our sales representative can follow up with you directly.