How clean is clean enough? : infection prevention and control in animal healthcare

Abstract

Microorganisms in the environment and on equipment in animal healthcare facilities may constitute a risk of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). Knowledge of the bacterial load as well as factors influencing the bacterial load is helpful in establishing infection prevention and control (IPC) routines to reduce the risk of HAIs. Cleaning and disinfection of environmental surfaces and equipment is an important IPC measure to reduce the risk of environmental spread of pathogens and incidence of HAIs.

The overall aim of the thesis was to improve IPC in animal healthcare by studying the bacterial load, before and after cleaning and disinfection, in the environment and on equipment, by passive air and surface sampling.

The bacterial load was generally low in air and on high-touch and near-patient surfaces in the operating room (OR) and the ultrasound room (UR). On near-patient surfaces in dog cages the bacterial load was generally low after decontamination, except after microfibre cleaning of the floor. The bacterial load was high on nearpatient surfaces and dental handpieces after equine dental care, and after decontamination the bacterial load on near-patient surfaces was generally low, but on dental handpieces the bacterial load was still high. Genes conveying resistance to chlorhexidine and quaternary ammonium compounds were identified in environmental staphylococci from the OR and the UR.

In conclusion, this thesis present a generally low bacterial load, except after microfibre-cleaning of the floor in dog cages and after decontamination of dental handpieces. This indicates a need for evidence-based cleaning and disinfection routines for environmental surfaces and equipment in animal healthcare, to reduce the risk of HAIs.

Keywords

animal hospital; antibacterial resistance; antimicrobial resistance; bacterial reduction; biosecurity; cleaning; disinfection; healthcare-associated infection; hygiene; veterinary clinic

Published in

Acta Universitatis Agriculturae Sueciae
2024, number: 2024:52ISBN: 978-91-8046-044-6, eISBN: 978-91-8046-045-3Publisher: Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences

SLU Authors

• Alsing Johansson, Todd

  • Department of Clinical Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

UKÄ Subject classification

Pathobiology
Clinical Science


Publication identifier

DOI: https://doi.org/10.54612/a.2qi029b3m1

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/128771