This talk includes advice and recommendations for improving infection control within an animal shelter, covering recommended equipment, guidelines and disinfectant portfolios as well as ideas on preventing outbreaks and reducing risks of cross infection within the shelter environment.

1. TRUSTED INFECTION CONTROL
INFECTION
CONTROL IN AN
ANIMAL SHELTER
Rick Hayman
MEDIMARK
SCIENTIFIC

2. TRUSTED INFECTION CONTROL
What is Infection Control?
Infection control addresses factors related to the
spread of infections
Animal to animal (different species – Zoonotic)
Animal to staff and from staff to animal
among-staff
These processes include prevention
Isolation, limiting movement
Cleaning and disinfection
hand hygiene/hand washing,
vaccination, surveillance / monitoring / investigation

3. TRUSTED INFECTION CONTROL
Animals from a variety of sources
endemic disease, carrying / incubating infectious
Shelter may have endemic organisms
Giardia, Ringworm, etc.
Animals subject to stress entering the Shelter
Potential immune system impairment
Increased susceptibility to disease
WHERE’s THE RISK?

4. TRUSTED INFECTION CONTROL
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 (5-7 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
Holding the Fort!

5. TRUSTED INFECTION CONTROL
KNOW YOUR ENEMY!
Parvovirus, FIP, FIV, etc.
Use of Appropriate disinfectants
Routine Hygiene Protocol
Use of effective Equipment
Personnel Cleanliness and Barrier Hygiene
Outbreak Procedures
DEEP CLEAN
PARVO
RINGWORM / KENNEL COUGH
A Healthy Environment

6. TRUSTED INFECTION CONTROL
Diseases and routes of transmission: -
PARVOVIRUS
Infected faecal matter and vomit
(haemorrhagic Diarrhoea)
» Can persist in environment for weeks
» Highly resistant to most disinfectants and
household cleaners!!
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.
KNOW THY ENEMY!!!

7. TRUSTED INFECTION CONTROL
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
DISEASE THREATS
Z = zoonotic

8. TRUSTED INFECTION CONTROL
Diseases and routes of transmission: -
RINGWORM - SKIN CONTACT (Z)
BORDETELLA BRONCHISEPTICA
DISEASE THREATS
Z = zoonotic

9. TRUSTED INFECTION CONTROL
Routes of Transmission
OroFaecal / ingestion
Food, Water, Surfaces, Grooming
Inhalation
Skin Contact
Equipment / Device Contact
Food Bowls, Leads, Collars, Toys
Veterinary devices
Clothing / Bedding

10. TRUSTED INFECTION CONTROL
Appropriate Disinfectants
The following should be paramount when choosing a
disinfectant: -
A wide range of microbiological activity with supporting test
evidence (Parvovirus, FIV, FCV, Herpes, etc.)
Activity in DIRTY CONDITIONS
Compatibility with materials (metal, rubber, plastics, cloth,
etc.)
Safe to Use
Economic - simple dilution ratios
Wide range of applications
Long shelf life in diluted format

11. TRUSTED INFECTION CONTROL
Non-effective Disinfection

12. TRUSTED INFECTION CONTROL
High Level Disinfection
High level Disinfectant - Effect of disinfectant on Microbial count
LogCount 9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0 __ __ __ __ __ Threshold
1 2 3 4 5 6
Day
Pre Disinfection count Post Disinfection count

13. TRUSTED INFECTION CONTROL
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?
Hygiene Protocols

14. TRUSTED INFECTION CONTROL
High risk of infection or where disease may be present?
PPE
aprons, boiler suits,
plastic and latex gloves
overshoes
All staff should regularly disinfect their hands
Installation of Footbaths?
NOT RECOMMENDED
Special Precautions

15. TRUSTED INFECTION CONTROL
Rehoming Blocks - BLUE
New Intake Blocks -
YELLOW
Booked and Long Term Block - BLUE
Puppy / Kitten Block - GREEN
Veterinary - RED
COLOUR CODING

16. TRUSTED INFECTION CONTROL
Maintaining Cleaning Equipment
Poorly maintained equipment and premises can become
an infection control hot spot, if cleaning and disinfection
is compromised

17. TRUSTED INFECTION CONTROL
Maintaining Cleaning Equipment
USE OF WRONG COLOURS CAN ALSO TRANSFER
INFECTED ORGANIC MATERIAL
IN THIS EXAMPLE
REHOMING TO INTAKE BLOCK?
INTAKE BLOCK TO REHOMING?

18. TRUSTED INFECTION CONTROL
Barrier Hygiene

19. TRUSTED INFECTION CONTROL

20. TRUSTED INFECTION CONTROL
Any Questions?