Zoonotic dz Prevention Flashcards
When working with animals in a veterinary hospital setting, or in general, when is it always important to wash your hands?
Before and after each patient
before you eat
After the restroom
On busy days at the vet clinic, is it acceptable to eat in the treatment area?
NO
T/F: Small animal veterinarians who always recapped needles were more likely to have sustained a needle stick within the past 12 months (CDC/AVMA) survey
TRUE
T/F: Hospitals should have written infection control policies
TRUE
What is the attitude veterinarians and vet staff may have that make them more susceptible to zoonoses?
We have a casual attitude towards blood, feces, urine, and other bodily fluids of animals
Also there is a casual attitude towards zoonotic infectious agents
T/F: Whenever contacting feces, body fluids, exudates, blood, or non intact skin, veterinary professionals should utilize standard preventative measures regardless of the presumed diagnosis or risk of infection
TRUE
Zoonotic infections in veterinary personnel are primarily related to ____ _____ and exposure to animal _____, infected skin, and droplets (not blood)
Bite wounds
feces
What would standard precautions for veterinarians look like?
using more PPE
gloves with derm exams, when coming into contact with bodily fluids (even running blood work, performing FNA) Face mask when perform dentals etc
What is the single most important measure to reduce the risk of disease transmission?
Hand hygiene
*using soap and water or alcohol based products
hand washing»> hand sanitizer due to the presence of contaminated organic material on hands
How should liquid soap dispensers be refilled?
They should be completely emptied (not topped off), before cleaning and refilling
When are alcohol based hand rubs effective?
When the hands are not visibly soiled
T/F: Alcohol based hand rubs are more effective than hand washing against protozoan parasites and non-enveloped viruses
FALSE
They are less effective than hand washing against these agents
When should gloves be worn on the treatment floor?
When touching any bodily fluids
dentistry, resuscitations, necropsies, OB’s, venipuncture on animals with suspected infectious dz and for soft tissue aspirates
To clean cages, litter boxes, contaminated surfaces, dirty laundry, to handle diagnostic specimens
Is it necessary to wash your hands after a procedure when you were wearing gloves?
YES
gloves are not a substitute for hand washing
T/F: Gloves are not necessary for handling normal, healthy animals
TRUE
In general, risk of infection via aerosol increased with _____ to the source and ______ of exposure
Proximity to the source
of exposure
T/F: Blowing in an endotracheal tube during CPR is acceptable practice
FALSE
this should be avoided
What are the three most commonly reported accident/injury reported in veterinary hospitals?
Dog bites
cat bites
needle sticks (inadvertent inj of a vaccine is the most common needle stick injury)
When should a used syringe with the needle attached be placed in the sharps container?
When injecting live vaccines or aspirating body fluids/tissue
*otherwise the needles and syringe can be separated for disposal of the needle in the sharps and syringe in the trash
How do you prevent needle stick injuries?
Needles should never be removed from the syringe by hand
needle caps should never be removed by mouth
*if you have to recap, use forceps or “one handed scoop” technique
What are some regulations you can establish in the animal hospital environment to control potential zoonoses?
Designate break areas separate from tx area
use separate fridge for human food, animal food, and biologics
Clean and store dishware for human use away from tx area
use separate storage and transport bins for clean and dirty laundry
