DM2 Pt5-1 Cleaning & Disinfection Flashcards
Why is cleaning and disinfection important in catteries?
It is vital to prevent the spread of infectious diseases, especially upper respiratory tract viruses.
How can cats spread viruses even without showing symptoms?
Cats can excrete viruses, especially herpesvirus, when they are stressed.
What items should be disinfected between patients in a cattery or clinic?
Scales, cages, cat carriers, thermometers, bedding, food and water bowls, and tabletops should be disinfected between patients.
Why should phenol-based disinfectants not be used near cats?
Cats cannot metabolise phenols, and even the fumes can be toxic to them.
What is the difference between sterilisation and disinfection?
Sterilisation removes all forms of microbial life, while disinfection selectively eliminates certain microorganisms to prevent their transmission.
Why is disinfection necessary in catteries?
Disinfection prevents the spread of infectious diseases from one cat to another, and in rare cases, to humans.
What are some important protozoa that can infect cats and humans?
Toxoplasma gondii and Giardia lambliae are important protozoa infections.
What are the main fungal infections to consider in cats?
Microsporum canis is the main agent causing ringworm in cats.
What are some important bacterial infections in cats?
Mycoplasma spp., Salmonella spp., and Chlamydia felis (formerly Chlamydophila).
What are some of the most important viral infections in cats?
Feline herpesvirus (FHV), feline calicivirus (FCV), feline parvovirus (FPV), feline leukaemia virus (FeLV), feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), and feline coronavirus (FIP).
Which two viruses are most resistant to disinfectants and highly infectious?
Feline parvovirus (FPV) and feline calicivirus (FCV) are the most resistant to disinfectants and highly infectious.
What were some ancient disinfectants?
Ancient disinfectants included copper, silver, wine, vinegar, and honey.
Which disinfectants were introduced in the 18th and 19th centuries?
Some examples include copper sulphate, bleaching powder, creosote, iodine, and phenol.
What are phenolic compounds derived from?
Phenolic compounds are derived from coal tar.
What are phenolic compounds effective against?
They are effective against viruses and bacteria but less active against bacterial spores.
Give an example of a well-known phenolic disinfectant.
Examples include ‘Lysol’ and ‘Stericol’.
What is the main antimicrobial component of pine disinfectants?
Terpineol has antimicrobial activity, while pinene has little antimicrobial effect.
What is an example of a combined pine disinfectant with phenols?
Dettol’ is a combined pine disinfectant with substituted phenols.
What acid is approved for use against foot-and-mouth virus?
Citric acid is approved for use against foot-and-mouth virus.
What is an example of an acid used as a food preservative?
Benzoic acid is used as a preservative in food and pharmaceutical products.
What is the most well-known biguanide used in disinfection?
Chlorhexidine is the best-known biguanide and is the main ingredient in ‘Hibitane’.
What are biguanides ineffective against?
They are ineffective against viruses and bacterial spores.
What are cationic surfactants effective against?
Cationic agents are effective against bacteria and enveloped viruses (e.g. FHV and FeLV).
What is an example of a widely used cationic surfactant?
Cetrimide, a constituent of ‘Savlon’.
What are aldehydes used for in disinfection?
Aldehydes, like formaldehyde and glutaraldehyde, are used as disinfectants for bacteria, spores, and viruses.
What concentration of glutaraldehyde is effective?
A 2% solution of glutaraldehyde is effective.
What halogen-based disinfectant is commonly used and effective against bacteria and viruses?
Sodium hypochlorite solutions (e.g., ‘Chloros’, ‘Domestos’).
What is a downside of using sodium hypochlorite?
It loses activity in the presence of organic matter and can release toxic chlorine gas.
What are the three main methods used to test disinfectant efficacy?
Suspension test, carrier test, and surface test.
How is the suspension test performed?
The microorganism is suspended in liquid, and disinfectant is added at different concentrations to determine the effective dilution rate.
What temperature and organic challenge is used in the suspension test?
Testing is done at 4°C with a 5% yeast suspension as the organic challenge.
How is the carrier test performed?
The microorganism is dried onto a carrier (e.g. stainless steel) and then placed in the disinfectant solution to test efficacy.
How is the surface test performed?
The microorganism is dried onto a surface (e.g. steel or wood), and the disinfectant is applied directly to the inoculated surface.
What is the minimum virus reduction required for a disinfectant to pass the suspension test?
The disinfectant must reduce the virus titre by at least 10,000-fold.
Why should phenolic compounds not be used around cats?
Cats cannot detoxify phenolic compounds due to low glucuronide transferase activity, making phenols toxic to them.
What must a cattery disinfectant be effective against?
It must be effective in the presence of organic material like faeces and have low toxicity.
What role do surfactants play in disinfectants?
Surfactants provide cleaning properties to the disinfectant.
What should you do before using a disinfectant?
Always read the label and follow the instructions strictly.
How long should disinfectant be left in contact before rinsing?
Disinfectant should be left for the recommended time, such as 30 minutes, before rinsing.
What precautions should be taken when diluting disinfectants?
Wear gloves and eye protection, and avoid breathing fumes as the concentrate is harmful.
Why should different disinfectants not be mixed?
They may be chemically incompatible.
What types of disinfectants should not be used in catteries?
Disinfectants containing phenolic compounds like ‘Dettol’, ‘Lysol’, and ‘Jeyes fluid’.
What should you avoid when disposing of disinfectant runoff?
Avoid letting disinfectant runoff enter watercourses, as it is toxic to aquatic life.
