ANSC 315 Disease Prevention and Treatment

Environmental Effects

• stress

• physical, emotional, environmental

• effects of stress on host

• many pathogens grow well in moist, warm environments

• IDEAL:

  • Temperature- comfortable, decrease stress, minimize extreme changes

  • Humidity- keep skin, respiratory tract moisturized - if too dry - more susceptible

Nosocomial Infections

• often Multidrug Resistant (MDR) Bacteria

• Risk Factors:

  • extremes of age

  • chronic disease

  • hospitalization while on steroids

  • chemotherapy (immunosuppressive)

  • invasive diagnostic or medical procedures

  • prolonged hospital stay

  • lengthy surgical procedures

  • non-discriminate antibiotic use

Levels of Cleaning

• pathogen control, odor control

• physical cleaning

• sanitation

• disinfection

• sterilization

Physical Cleaning

• first step

• removal of gross wastes and organic materials from the environment

• organic materials bind chemicals used in more advanced stages of cleaning

Sanitation

• killing or removing the number of bacterial contaminants to a safe level

• generally uses chemicals

• general level that a lot of cleaning gets to

Disinfection

• kills most of the contaminants in a given area

• kills all pathogens with exception of bacterial spores

• chemical- often require a certain amount of contact time to work

• thermal- ex.- steam cleaning

Sterilization

• killing of all life forms at all levels, including bacterial spores

• surgical instruments, injectable materials

• chemical (alcohol), thermal (autoclave), gase

Surgical Situation

• instruments, drapes, gowns ,etc. sterilized

• disposable

• “surgical field”- nothing that isn’t sterilized should touch

• surgical preparation of incision site

• pre-surgical scrub for surgeon

• mask

• gloves

• prevent nosocomial infections

Kennel Situation

• multiple animals- may come from one source or many sources

• shelter

• boarding or grooming kennel

• veterinary hospital

• breeding kennel

• research facility

Fomites

• human hands

  • washing

  • use of hand sanitizers- alcohol based- denature protein

• shoes

  • foot baths- particularly if known contagious disease

• beeding

• litterboxes

• instruments, clippers, brushes, leashes

Surfaces

Cloth/carpeting

• very difficult to clean

Metals

• stainless steal or aluminum- prevent rusting

Vinyl flooring

• tile squares have cracks and joints at each junction- difficult to clean

Concrete

• porous- holds microorganisms

• fill cracks

• treatment with epoxy flooring surface

Ventilation

• humidity control

• recycled air vs air exchange

  • recommend 10 changes/hr

• filtration

  • HEPA - expensive filters

  • washable filters

  • UV light- neutralize virus and small organic particles

Waste Management

• accessibility for cleaning- ability to reach all sides

Vector Control

• control of rodents

• control of other animals in environment

• control of insects that may carry disease

  • can be at environmental level or animal level

Insecticides and Parasiticides

• as preventative or treatment

• common preventatives

  • heartworm preventative

  • internal parasite preventative

  • flea prevention

  • tick prevention

Disease Screening

• geriatric screening of older pets

• OFA, PennHip-x-rays for hip dysplasia in parents before they are bred

• FeLV/FIV test- before introducing cat to others

• brucella testing before breeding