Biosecurity can have different connotations depending on
who you are speaking with, but for the purpose of this blog, it means to
protect the animal, human and environmental health against the threat of
pathogenic microorganisms. From this definition it is important to highlight
the fact that the three pillars upon which a biosecurity program should be
built are the animal, the environment and the human. Taking into account the “animal factor” is a
key consideration in developing a biosecurity program because diseases can spread
from animal to animal, from animal to humans (zoonosis) and, although less
frequently, from humans to animals.
In veterinary medicine, as in human medicine, the human
factor is crucial. People from different backgrounds are involved with the
daily care of animals, that is veterinarians, veterinary nurses, veterinary
assistants, veterinary students, cleaning crews, farmers, etc. all of which
need to understand and be educated on general biosecurity and more specific
biosecurity issues concerning their specific activity. Therefore education and
compliance are two very important factors to deliver high levels of care for
the animals and to protect humans, thus making a biosecurity program
successful.
factor is crucial. People from different backgrounds are involved with the
daily care of animals, that is veterinarians, veterinary nurses, veterinary
assistants, veterinary students, cleaning crews, farmers, etc. all of which
need to understand and be educated on general biosecurity and more specific
biosecurity issues concerning their specific activity. Therefore education and
compliance are two very important factors to deliver high levels of care for
the animals and to protect humans, thus making a biosecurity program
successful.
In the animal world there are many different contagious
infectious diseases with the potential to cause outbreaks or serious diseases,
not only in a hospital setting, but also in the field. Infectious disease outbreaks are costly and
can have devastating economic effects. Thus education of personnel is a very
important factor in preventing outbreaks. While it would be nice to think we
can train an animal to cough into their elbow, the reality is it’s not going to
happen. We have to rely on how people
are handling the animals. If properly
educated and well trained, people can recognize an infectious disease early and
have a biosecurity protocol in place, they can help prevent its spread. Adding
to the importance of the human factor is the potential risk of zoonotic
diseases. In survey of North America Veterinary Teaching Hospitals, 50 % of the
participating institutions reported zoonotic infections; agents included
Cryptosporidium parvum, MRSA, Salmonella enterica, among others. A key element
of a biosecurity program is that animal care givers learn how to recognize and
protect themselves from zoonotic diseases.
infectious diseases with the potential to cause outbreaks or serious diseases,
not only in a hospital setting, but also in the field. Infectious disease outbreaks are costly and
can have devastating economic effects. Thus education of personnel is a very
important factor in preventing outbreaks. While it would be nice to think we
can train an animal to cough into their elbow, the reality is it’s not going to
happen. We have to rely on how people
are handling the animals. If properly
educated and well trained, people can recognize an infectious disease early and
have a biosecurity protocol in place, they can help prevent its spread. Adding
to the importance of the human factor is the potential risk of zoonotic
diseases. In survey of North America Veterinary Teaching Hospitals, 50 % of the
participating institutions reported zoonotic infections; agents included
Cryptosporidium parvum, MRSA, Salmonella enterica, among others. A key element
of a biosecurity program is that animal care givers learn how to recognize and
protect themselves from zoonotic diseases.
Biosecurity education will also ensure compliance. In
this sense, a biosecurity program needs to have the full support of the top
level of the organization and trickle down; more importantly everyone should be
engaged and understand the importance of biosecurity practices. Thus,
multidisciplinary team work is paramount for a biosecurity program to be
successful. This means that everyone in the organization involved with the care
of animals from the CEO to the cleaning crew should be integral parts of this
team, and the importance of their jobs should be highlighted and praised.
this sense, a biosecurity program needs to have the full support of the top
level of the organization and trickle down; more importantly everyone should be
engaged and understand the importance of biosecurity practices. Thus,
multidisciplinary team work is paramount for a biosecurity program to be
successful. This means that everyone in the organization involved with the care
of animals from the CEO to the cleaning crew should be integral parts of this
team, and the importance of their jobs should be highlighted and praised.
I think that the human factor is paradoxically the most
difficult to attain, since it is hard work to educate everyone and more so,
even if efforts are made in education, compliance can be less than ideal. It is
critical to understand that team work and effective leadership can be the
difference between success and failure.
difficult to attain, since it is hard work to educate everyone and more so,
even if efforts are made in education, compliance can be less than ideal. It is
critical to understand that team work and effective leadership can be the
difference between success and failure.
Looking at the animal factor; animals can become ill with
a wide variety of infectious contagious diseases. It is important to understand
the difference between an animal being sick with a contagious infectious
disease, being colonized or being a carrier.
In a hospital situation, admitting an animal that is sick with an
infectious disease (i.e. fever, leukopenia and diarrhea) will prompt immediate
placement of that animal in the isolation area, where high levels of
biosecurity measures are implemented. More complex is the identification of an
animal that can be a carrier of an infectious disease, but not sick at the time
of admission. These animals impose a
high risk to a hospital environment. This is why a biosecurity protocol must
always be in place and we should never lower our guard when it comes to infectious
disease control. International animal travel is a great example of this risk
and epitomizes the need for strict surveillance and biosecurity measures.
a wide variety of infectious contagious diseases. It is important to understand
the difference between an animal being sick with a contagious infectious
disease, being colonized or being a carrier.
In a hospital situation, admitting an animal that is sick with an
infectious disease (i.e. fever, leukopenia and diarrhea) will prompt immediate
placement of that animal in the isolation area, where high levels of
biosecurity measures are implemented. More complex is the identification of an
animal that can be a carrier of an infectious disease, but not sick at the time
of admission. These animals impose a
high risk to a hospital environment. This is why a biosecurity protocol must
always be in place and we should never lower our guard when it comes to infectious
disease control. International animal travel is a great example of this risk
and epitomizes the need for strict surveillance and biosecurity measures.
The environment is a complex issue in veterinary
medicine; the reason being that so many different materials and designs are
utilized to house and/or transport animals, thus making it difficult to
implement standards across the board. The wide array in materials will have a
direct impact on measures taken to prevent or mitigate the spread of an
infectious disease. More importantly the efficaciousness of disinfectants is
correlated to the surface to which it is applied. For example, it is very hard or even
impossible to properly disinfect untreated wood or dirt. Cleaners and
disinfectants are best used on surfaces that are non-porous (i.e. Epoxy painted concrete blocks, stainless
steel, tile, etc.). Infectious diseases can also occur at the farm level, where
control measures can sometimes be more challenging, especially if a biosecurity
plan is not routinely used.
medicine; the reason being that so many different materials and designs are
utilized to house and/or transport animals, thus making it difficult to
implement standards across the board. The wide array in materials will have a
direct impact on measures taken to prevent or mitigate the spread of an
infectious disease. More importantly the efficaciousness of disinfectants is
correlated to the surface to which it is applied. For example, it is very hard or even
impossible to properly disinfect untreated wood or dirt. Cleaners and
disinfectants are best used on surfaces that are non-porous (i.e. Epoxy painted concrete blocks, stainless
steel, tile, etc.). Infectious diseases can also occur at the farm level, where
control measures can sometimes be more challenging, especially if a biosecurity
plan is not routinely used.
In North America a survey including veterinary teaching hospitals reported that 82 % of the institutions had an outbreak of nosocomial
infection and 58 % of the institutions had to restrict patient admissions in
order to control the outbreak. This paper did not include data from private
veterinary hospitals, thus likely underestimating the overall importance on
nosocomial outbreaks in the veterinary environment. The most common agent
associated with nosocomial outbreaks, particularly in large animal hospitals,
was Salmonella enterica. This is the reason why large animal hospitals utilize
active surveillance to detect shedding of this bacteria among hospitalized
patients. This highlights the importance of the environment as a source of
infectious diseases, making environmental cleaning and disinfection very
important.
infection and 58 % of the institutions had to restrict patient admissions in
order to control the outbreak. This paper did not include data from private
veterinary hospitals, thus likely underestimating the overall importance on
nosocomial outbreaks in the veterinary environment. The most common agent
associated with nosocomial outbreaks, particularly in large animal hospitals,
was Salmonella enterica. This is the reason why large animal hospitals utilize
active surveillance to detect shedding of this bacteria among hospitalized
patients. This highlights the importance of the environment as a source of
infectious diseases, making environmental cleaning and disinfection very
important.
Environmental cleaning and disinfection along with the
use of appropriate products is an integral part of a multidisciplinary
biosecurity protocol. That is environmental measures should complement but not
replace other important aspects of biosecurity, such as education, hand
hygiene, compliance, etc. Disinfectants should be chosen based on their
microbicidal spectrum, contact time, compatibility with materials and finally
safety. One of the most serious flaws of
disinfectants routinely used in veterinary facilities is a prolonged contact
time required for microbial killing. Many disinfectants required microbicidal
time of 10 minutes, but dry well before achieving this dwell time, thus
creating a false sense of security and increases the risk for susceptible
animals or humans at risk to become infected.
Choosing a disinfectant is more than a review of kill claims or
price. One needs to investigate the
contact times, the safety profile not only for the animal but for the people
who will be using the product and the environment because in rural areas, the
run-off from disinfectants is not being routed into sanitary sewer systems for
treatment.
use of appropriate products is an integral part of a multidisciplinary
biosecurity protocol. That is environmental measures should complement but not
replace other important aspects of biosecurity, such as education, hand
hygiene, compliance, etc. Disinfectants should be chosen based on their
microbicidal spectrum, contact time, compatibility with materials and finally
safety. One of the most serious flaws of
disinfectants routinely used in veterinary facilities is a prolonged contact
time required for microbial killing. Many disinfectants required microbicidal
time of 10 minutes, but dry well before achieving this dwell time, thus
creating a false sense of security and increases the risk for susceptible
animals or humans at risk to become infected.
Choosing a disinfectant is more than a review of kill claims or
price. One needs to investigate the
contact times, the safety profile not only for the animal but for the people
who will be using the product and the environment because in rural areas, the
run-off from disinfectants is not being routed into sanitary sewer systems for
treatment.
Take a look at your biosecurity program to see if there
are areas that need to be improved and be sure to give me a call if you
successfully train the animals you handle to cough into their elbow!
are areas that need to be improved and be sure to give me a call if you
successfully train the animals you handle to cough into their elbow!
Dr. Lucas Pantaleon is a Large Animal Board Certified
Internal Medicine Specialist. Dr.
Pantaleon worked as the head of Medicine and Biosecurity at an equine hospital
in Kentucky and has an ambulatory Internal Medicine Veterinarian in a practice
in Kentucky. He is currently the
Director of Technical Services for Ogena Solutions who provide environmentally
friendly bio-security products, equipment and protocols.
Internal Medicine Specialist. Dr.
Pantaleon worked as the head of Medicine and Biosecurity at an equine hospital
in Kentucky and has an ambulatory Internal Medicine Veterinarian in a practice
in Kentucky. He is currently the
Director of Technical Services for Ogena Solutions who provide environmentally
friendly bio-security products, equipment and protocols.
