Commentary
What? Again? Yes, absolutely!
The topic of infection control and disinfection products, protocols and methods dominated media and discussions starting in February 2020. Medical and veterinary hospitals hurried to update protocols, train staff and implement checks and balances to reduce the risk of Covid-19 transmission. Through all the confusion, animal health pros have done their best and deserve kudos on all levels.
Now, eight months later, let’s be honest about compliance to the protocols in the current pandemic context:
- Some hospitals have hired new employees to supplement overworked staff
- Curbside interactions reduce in-clinic challenges, but have infection control trade-offs
- When we’re pushed and hurried, we know it is easy to revert to the old ways
We’ve included resources for animal health pros, including some developed by Virox™ Animal Health as support for refreshing team knowledge and compliance to protocols.
Source: Keep it clean, AAHA, Virox™ Animal Health. Link.
Source: 2018 AAHA Infection Control, Prevention, and Biosecurity Guidelines. Link.
Source: Six steps for safe and effective disinfectant use, EPA. Link. One-page infographic.
Source: Biosecurity training needs to be ongoing, Dairy Herd Management, July 9, 2019. Link.
Source: 7 steps to good infection prevention, Virox™ Animal Health. Link. Note the product quick start guides available here:
Source: The veterinary nurse’s role in preventing hospital-acquired infections, Today’s Veterinary Nurse, Spring 2020. Link.
INSIGHTS: Behavioral compliance to infection control protocols is important. Human nature is to shortcut when we can. You might consider a game of sorts where a colleague who forgets has to pay a fine to an infection control jar. A dime or quarter might be an appropriate fine that does not hurt too badly and serves as a reminder of the importance of everyone working together to eliminate potential pathogens.