Infection Prevention Guide for Veterinary Clinics

Protecting Animal Health and Employee Safety with Modern Practices

Infection Risk Should Not Be Ignored in Veterinary Clinics

Veterinary clinics are health centres where different animal species come together and there is frequent patient circulation. In this environment, the risk of infection is not only for animals but also for owners and clinic staff. Hygiene practices and disinfection processes are of great importance in these environments where viral, bacterial or parasitic agents can spread rapidly.

This guide covers practical and scientifically based infection control strategies for veterinarians and clinic staff.

A Basic Rule: Hand Hygiene

Direct contact with animals in veterinary clinics prepares the ground for the transfer of various microorganisms. Especially in terms of zoonotic (animal-to-human) diseases, paying attention to hand hygiene is critical for both employee health and patient protection.

Situations where hand hygiene should be applied:

• Before and after contact with each patient
• After contact with animal faeces, urine, saliva or blood (after infection with body fluids)
• Before/after intervention on surfaces or devices
• After touching equipment such as cages, carrier bags, etc.

While alcohol-based hand antiseptics offer a fast and effective solution, hand washing with soap and water should be preferred in cases of blood or visible contamination.

Detailed Information: Hand Hygiene Products Category

Preventing Cross-Infection between Animals

Examining consecutive patients in the same clinic can lead to a chain of infection if care is not taken. For this reason, instruments, table surfaces and equipment should be cleaned and subsequently disinfected after each animal.

Application Recommendations:

• Frequently used equipment such as examination tables, transport boxes, thermometers, stethoscopes should be cleaned and disinfected after each use
• Surface cleaning with medium level disinfectants with appropriate duration of action
• Disposable covers and gloves should be made routine

In this way, the spread of bacterial, viral and fungal agents within the clinic can be significantly prevented.

Floor and Equipment Hygiene: Areas that should not be overlooked

Veterinary clinics are usually places with a heavy patient traffic. Therefore, both general floor cleaning and hygiene of frequently contacted areas should be handled systematically.

Main Points to be Cleaned:

• Entrance doors and handles
• Waiting room seats
• Weighing device, stretchers, transport systems
• Cage interiors and outer walls
• Shaving and surgical procedure areas

General cleaning with medium level disinfectants is recommended daily and detailed equipment and floor disinfection is recommended weekly. Products that prevent biofilm formation should be especially preferred.

Detailed information: Surface Disinfectants Category

Hygiene in Surgery and Surgical Areas

Veterinary surgical applications are among the procedures with the highest risk of infection. Therefore, it is recommended that sterilisation and disinfection protocols are applied in accordance with the standards in hospitals.

Things to be Considered:

• Surgical instruments must be prepared according to pre-cleaning → disinfection  / sterilisation steps
• Enzymatic cleaners can be used for instrument washing
• Surgical areas should be disinfected with appropriate product before the operation
• The veterinary surgeon and surgical team should follow correct surgical hand washing procedures

Postoperative area cleaning and dressings are also critical points in terms of contamination.

Young Animals, Isolation and Quarantine Practices

Special precautions should be taken in the clinic for young, old or immunocompromised animals. In addition, animals with symptoms such as diarrhoea, vomiting, respiratory tract infection should be isolated if possible.

Isolation Policies:

• Sick animals should be kept in a separate room or at least in a different cage
• The same materials should never be used in more than one patient
• Hand hygiene is mandatory after caring for animals
• Isolation areas should be cleaned more frequently for contamination

These practices also significantly reduce zoonotic risks.

Waste Management and PPE Use

Medical waste and biological materials must be disposed of regularly in veterinary clinics. In addition, all employees should use personal protective equipment (PPE) to protect themselves.

Basic Principles for Waste Management:

• Materials such as injectors, needles, etc. should be disposed of in puncture-proof boxes
• Materials contaminated with blood, urine, faeces should be collected in separate bags
• Disposal should be ensured in an environmentally friendly manner

Hygiene in Clinical Standards, Safe Animal Health Service

Infection prevention in veterinary clinics is a critical process that protects not only animals but also human health. The most effective tool in this process is knowledge-based practices and a disciplined hygiene approach.

As Detro Healthcare, we offer various instrument, surface and hand disinfectant solutions for the hygiene needs of veterinary healthcare professionals. The key to hygiene is accurate information and regular practices.