Download infection control in the vet setting

Veterinarians practice in a single-vet office as well as
• Zoos
• Animal hospitals
• Research labs
• Multi-veterinarian clinics
• Universities
• Some veterinarians make “house calls” to larger farms
and ranches when it is not possible for the animal to
be brought to the office
• Animal hospitals provide around the clock care for
animals that need more attention than can be given at
home, or are critically ill
 Help veterinary surgeons (vets) by providing nursing
care for sick, injured and hospitalized animals
 Educate owners on good standards of animal care and
welfare
 Be calm and confident when handling animals
 Sympathetic when dealing with upset/nervous owners
 Willing to carry out messy or
unpleasant tasks
 Help animal doctors and technicians in their daily
tasks by cleaning , maintaining equipment, feeding,
exercising and grooming animals
 Prepare and sanitize surgery suites and tools
 Restrain and handle animals
 Need a Certification or Associates degree
 Median annual salary is 22,040
 Cities with highest employment are the following:
Atlanta, GA; Los Angeles, CA; Washington, D.C.; New
York, NY; Boston, MA; Houston, TX; Philadelphia, PA;
San Diego, CA; Chicago, IL; Dallas, TX
 Animals are considered to be chattel meaning that
they are personal property just as much as a car or
house
 Veterinarians are responsible for the actions of all the
employees
 Misconduct by vet assistants can lead to a lawsuit that
could result in loss of license and the right to work as a
vet
 Make a guarantee you can’t keep
 Permit owners to restrain their own pets
 Allow unsafe work place condition
 Provide information to anyone on any subject that you
are not well informed about
 Document all conversations with owners in patient
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records
Make sure consent forms are reviewed and signed by
owner before giving any kind of service
Keep doors closed and windows secured
Provide leashes and carriers for clients
Keep animals separate
Use I.D collars on all patients
Abide by all the laws
 Override state laws because they are broader in scope
and more general in statement
 Laws covering liability, slander, unfair competition,
price fixing, and employment
 Marine mammals are protected in their handling,
transport and care
 Animal welfare act affects the care and handling of
researching animals
 AVMA publishes their “Principles of Veterinary
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Medical Ethics” annually which provides standard
behavior within all veterinary practices
Patients needs come first with the goal of reducing
disease, suffering, and pain
All interactions are based on fairness and honesty
Medical records are confidential
Emergency services are available at all
times
 Malpractice is the improper treatment or error a
professional health care provider makes
 For example misdiagnosing a dogs illness, prescribing
the wrong treatment, or stopping treatment too soon
 Owner can file a lawsuit but vets usually try to settle
the issue without going to court
 Negligence is failure to take the proper care in doing
something
 For example letting an animal escape through an open
door, leaving an animal on a heating pad too long, or
forgetting to feed an animal
 The client should not be the one
to restrain their animal
 If the animal is known to have
bitten or attempts to bite, I
believe early application of a
muzzle actually reduces the need
for additional restraint
 The plastic and cloth muzzles are
easiest to clean between patients.
Leather muzzles are difficult to
clean between use and the leather
gets stiff from saliva
 The office you visit may also have restraint bags for cats or
small dogs. These bags are canvas or nylon and have an
opening to keep their head out
 Using restraints is a helpful and safe way to perform
procedures without having to worry about the animal
moving and hurting themselves
 Cat Scratch Fever: a bacterial disease associated with cat
scratches and bites
 Rabies: a preventable viral disease transmitted through
the bite of an animal
 Ringworm: a skin and scalp disease caused by many
different fungi and is transmitted from direct contact with
an infected animals skin
 Campylobacter Infection : a bacterial disease that causes
infection of the gastrointestinal system and transmitted by
their feces (stool)
 Organisms are killed based on chemical dilution. Read
the disinfectant label in order to determine how to kill
the organisms
 Biohazardous waste includes any material that can
cause a risk to humans. Material such as blood, bodily
fluids and soiled linens.
 Biohazard containers are all over the clinic to ensure
the safety of everyone
 Sharps container is filled with used medical needles
and other sharp instruments. Once a vet has injected
the animal, the syringe must go directly into the sharps
container
 NEVER RECAP A NEEDLE
 Use personal protective equipment to prevent personal
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injury
Patients bite, scratch, and kick
Transmit diseases through physical contact and
contact with infected surfaces
Hearing loss from loud barking
Environment hazards like wet floors or radiation
exposure
Prevent inhalation of gases and chemicals
Gloves: wear when there is potential for exposure of hands to
infectious materials, chemicals, or toxic agents
Goggles: wear when there is a chance for splashing or spraying
infectious/ toxic materials into eyes
Aprons or Gowns: wear over clothing whenever there is
potential body contact with highly contagious materials
Masks or Face Shields: wear when there is a risk of
splashing infectious toxic materials onto your face
Ear Protectors: wear to prevent hearing impairment while
working in noisy environments
Boots: wear when in wet and dirty environments like
hosing down floors and kennels
 THE KEY TO STAYING HEALTHY IN ANY KIND OF
MEDICAL FIELD IS ALWAYS WASH YOUR HANDS
AND USE THE CORRECT PPE!!!!
 ALWAYS USE UNIVERSALPRECAUTION!!!
 Wear clean examination gloves on both hands
 Wear them throughout contact with patient
 Remove contaminated gloves according to
industry standards
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S4gyNAsPCbU&safe
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 Universal precautions are measures taken whenever there is the
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possibility of transmission of infection from a patient or the
patient’s body to the handler.
This arose in the medical field to prevent transmission of
hepatitis and AIDS.
It is safest to assume that there is always a way for crossinfection, be it person-to-person, animal-to-person, or animalto-animal.
An “Infection Control Plan” is developed to prevent infections.
Remember to change gloves and wash your hands whenever
handling new patients!
Note that the same gloves can be worn while doing a series of
laboratory procedures involving body fluids.
Remove gloves according to occupational standards.
Animals are a humans best friend