Infection prevention and control practices of ambulatory veterinarians: A questionnaire study in Finland. Issue 4 (1st March 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Verkola, Marie; Järvelä, Terhi; Järvinen, Asko; Jokelainen, Pikka; Virtala, Anna‐Maija; Kinnunen, Paula M.; Heikinheimo, Annamari
• Is Part Of: Veterinary medicine and science. Volume 7:Issue 4(2021)
• Page Start: 1059
• Page End: 1070
• Publication Date: 2021-03-01
• Subjects: hand hygiene -- infection control -- personal protective equipment -- veterinarians -- zoonoses; Veterinary medicine -- Periodicals; Animal Diseases; Veterinary medicine; Periodicals; Periodicals; 636.08905
• DOI: 10.1002/vms3.464
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2053-1095

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Veterinarians face the risk of contracting zoonotic pathogens. Infection prevention and control (IPC) guidelines stress the importance of proper hand hygiene and personal protective equipment (PPE) to prevent transmission of these pathogens. Objectives: We aimed to assess how ambulatory livestock and equine veterinarians follow IPC guidelines, when working on farms and in stables. Methods: We studied hygiene practices of livestock and equine ambulatory veterinarians ( n = 129) in Finland. A web‐based questionnaire was used to obtain demographic information and information regarding hand‐hygiene facilities and practices, use and cleaning of PPE and cleaning of medical equipment. Results: According to 66.9% of the respondents, hand‐washing facilities were often adequate on livestock farms, but only 21.4% reported that this was the case in stables ( p < .001). While 75.0% reported washing their hands or using hand sanitizer always before moving on to the next farm, only 42.5% reported doing this before moving on to the next stables ( p < .001). Universal protective coat or coverall use was more common in livestock practice than in equine practice (91.6% vs. 27.7%, p < .001). Stethoscope cleaning was reported to happen less frequently than once a week by 30.0% of the respondents. Conclusions: Finnish veterinarians' self‐reported IPC adherence was far from uniform. IPC was more commonly followed in ambulatory livestock practice perhaps facilitated by better hand‐washing facilities on farms than in stables. The study suggests that education of veterinarians is still needed and that hand‐washing facilities need to be improved even in a high‐income country. Abstract : Hand hygiene practices and use of personal protective equipment was studied among ambulatory livestock and equine veterinarians. Adherence to infection prevention and control guidelines was suboptimal. The results indicated poor availability of hand hygiene facilities and use of protective clothing especially in stables and should be noted in veterinary education.