Comprehensive Guide to Infection Control in Animal Shelters

1. Rick Hayman INFECTION CONTROL IN AN ANIMAL SHELTER

2. What is Infection Control? • Infection control is the discipline concerned with preventing the spread of infectious organisms • It is an essential part of an organisations policies • Infection control addresses factors related to the spread of infections • Animal to animal • Animal to staff and from staff to animal • Surface / device to animal and / or staff • Among staff / devices / surfaces (environment) • These processes include prevention by • Cleaning and disinfection • Barrier Hygiene • (operational, procedural, treatment / intervention) • Vaccination • Surveillance / monitoring / investigation

3. Definitions • STERILISATION • The process of rendering an object or environment free of all living organisms, by heat (dry or steam), irradiation or chemicals. • DISINFECTION • The process of reducing the number of micro-organisms to a level which is no longer harmful to health. This is generally achieved by use of chemical disinfectants. • CLEANING • The removal of contaminants including dust, soil, micro-organisms and the organic matter that protects them. Cleaning agents usually have a degreasing property. Always necessary prior to disinfection or sterilisation. • DECONTAMINATION • The process of rendering an object or environment safe by the removal of microbial contamination. This process will include methods of cleaning, disinfection and sterilisation.

4. Pathogen Category • Cat. 1 An organism that is most unlikely to cause disease • Cat. 2 An organism that may cause disease and which might be a hazard (campylobacter, Ringworm, Bordetella, etc ) • Cat. 3 An organism that may cause severe disease and present a serious hazard. It may present a risk of spread to the community (Parvovirus, FCV, FIV, etc.) • Cat.4 An organism as Cat. 3 but where there is no effective prophylaxis or treatment available • (Rabies virus)

5. Where’s the risk? • Animals from a variety of sources • carrying / incubating infectious • Shelter may have endemic organisms • Giardia, Ringworm, etc. • Animals subject to stress entering an organisation • Potential immune system impairment • Incubated disease • Increased susceptibility to disease

6. Key micro-organisms – Cat 3 • Diseases and routes of transmission: - • CANINE PARVOVIRUS - OROFAECAL • Infected faecal matter and vomit(haemorrhagic Diarrhoea) • Can persist in environment for weeks • Highly resistant to most disinfectants and household cleaners!! • FELINE INFECTIOUS ENTERITIS - OROFAECAL • caused by infection with feline parvovirus (FPV) • also known as feline panleukopenia virus

7. Key micro-organisms – Cat 3 • Diseases and routes of transmission: - • FELINE HERPES / CALICIVIRUS Cat-to-cat contact; touching noses, smelling rears, using soiled litter pans, sharing water and food bowls and even bedding • FIV, FIP, FeLv, etc.

8. Key micro-organisms – Cat 2 • Diseases and routes of transmission (gastro-intestinal): - • SALMONELLA - OROFAECAL (Z) • Gastrointestinal spills, contaminated food, bedding and collars, etc • CAMPYLOBACTER - OROFAECAL (Z) • Contaminated water / food • GIARDIA - OROFAECAL (Z) • Infected faecal matter / contaminated water Z = zoonotic

9. Key micro-organisms – Cat 2 • Diseases and routes of transmission: - • RINGWORM - SKIN CONTACT (Z) • BORDETELLA BRONCHISEPTICA (Kennel Cough)

10. Routes of Transmission (VECTORS) • Environmental contact (Kennel / Cattery pen) • OroFaecal / Ingestion • Food, Water, Surfaces, Grooming • Inhalation • Skin Contact • Equipment / Device Contact • Beds, Litter Trays, Leads, Collars, Toys • Veterinary devices • Bedding

11. Holding the Fort PHYSICAL BARRIERS • ISOLATION pending CLEAR BILL OF HEALTH • Animal specific equipment, food and water bowls, leads, collars, etc. • Separate exercise areas  OPERATIONAL BARRIERS • Do not relocate or allow movement into general populous for (X DAYS) • vigilant in identifying disease / regularly assess • Staff managing High Risk cases should not handle puppies / kittens  TREATMENT AND INTERVENTION • New entrants to be Veterinary examined • Commence Vaccination course asap  • Treatments for parasitical infections?

12. SOP’s (Standard Operating Procedures) • HOW, WHEN, WHERE, WHAT to clean?? • Animal Change over? • Spot Cleaning? • Food / Water Bowls, Bedding, etc. • Veterinary Environment • HIGH RISK / INTERMEDIATE RISK? • Puppy / Kitten Block – Intake – Isolation • General Population / Re-homing • OUTBREAKS???

13. Some useful recommendations • Solid material should be picked up first • DO NOT HOSE OUT PRIOR TO DISINFECTION • All concrete runs should be disinfected daily • Spot cleaning? • ONLY where an animal has been resident for 7 days or more • Food and water bowls • Bedding • Foot baths or Overshoes? • Veterinary tables and worktops • Deep Clean or Maintenance Clean?

14. Maintaining Cleaning Equipment • Poorly maintained equipment and premises can become an infection control hot spot, if cleaning and disinfection is compromised

15. Maintaining Cleaning Equipment • USE OF WRONG COLOURS CAN ALSO TRANSFER INFECTED ORGANIC MATERIAL • Isolation to Rehoming • Intake to puppy / kitten??

16. Infection Control is often just being practical • Empty buckets, rinse and leave to air dry • Make a fresh solution of ANIGENE at 1:50 at the end of each block to keep brush heads disinfected • At end of day remove, rinse and leave to air dry • Regularly wipe Squeegee and soak in disinfectant trough of ANIGENE diluted at 1:50 • At day end rinse, wipe blade and leave to air dry • Replace Mop head and wash in machine

17. What to look for in your chosen product? • The following should be paramount when choosing a disinfectant: - • A wide range of microbiological activity with supporting test evidence • Activity in the presence of organic matter • Compatibility with varied materials (metal, rubber, plastics, etc.) • Non-senstitising, non-fuming and safe to use • Cost economy with simple dilution ratios • Wide range of applications • Long shelf life in diluted format

18. Surface Disinfection Range

19. ANIGENE HLD4V • Replaces Trigene Advance • Available in: • 1000 litre, 200 litre, 20 litre • 5 litre and 1 litre Self-Dosing • 500ml Trigger Sprays • Fragranced or Non-Fragranced • Dill, Apple • Lemon, Lavender

20. PROTOZOA / DEEP CLEAN • Effervescent Chlorine Tablets • DEFRA APPROVED (GO 1 tablet / 1.7 Ltr water) • Bactericidal, Fungicidal, • Virucidal, Sporicidal • Effective against Protozoa • Giardia Lamblia in 10 mins (8mg / Litre)

21. ANIGENEHLD4V • Available in: • Large wipe – 200 wipes • Alcohol Free • Suitable for the cleansing of surfaces, all objects, wounds and wiping of endoscopes prior to disinfection • ANIGENE Wipes are: • Bactericidal, Fungicidal, Virucidal • Mycobactericidal, Sporicidal • Non-irritant with a 2yr shelf life

22. AIRGENE FOGGING CANNISTER • An aerosol-based disinfectant independently tested to be: • Bactericidal • Fungicidal • Virucidal • Unique method of delivery • Additional process in infection control program for practice’s • Two sizes: • 50ml – Up to 40c/m rooms • 300ml – up to 150c/m rooms

23. VETGEL • Alcohol Surgical Hand Rub • 30 second hygiene prep • 1 minute surgical prep • Faster action than soap scrubs • Available in 500ml and 1 litre cartridge • Waterless

24. CHEMGENE Alcogel • For long lasting skin disinfection containing 70% Ethanol • extremely effective on previously cleaned hands • The gel gently dries, inhibiting alcohol evaporation to maintain a long contact time for better disinfection results • Easy to use and ideal for "on the move" applications where soap and water are not readily available • Available in easy to use 50ml belt attached bottle • Swift hand disinfection between patients

25. Any questions?