Disease transmission has been on all our minds over the past few years. While a pandemic may be an extreme scenario, consistently implementing everyday biosecurity measures into your practice protocols doesn’t have to be taxing.

Effective biosecurity measures can help to safeguard animal health and reduce economic losses at your clinic, so it’s imperative to take them seriously. Everyone who directly or indirectly deals with animals at your clinic is responsible for ensuring biosecurity protocols are followed. We understand how difficult it can be to analyze and assess which areas need improving. In recognition of One Health Awareness Month¹, we’re highlighting some areas to consider in your plans to improve biosecurity.

Front Office
As the highest-traffic area of any practice, you can expect a range of potential biosecurity issues that may arise when humans, healthy pets, and sick pets are commingling; therefore, it is essential to understand the tactics needed to minimize the risk.

In the waiting area, physical space is vital. Provide clearly defined seating areas that allow for pets to be separated enough to social distance while still maximizing the number of clients to which you can cater. Designate areas for sick and well visits, and move sick patients into a specific exam room as quickly as possible. Second to physical space are barriers. Clear barriers at your countertop or reception desk may help to protect your front-office staff from droplet exposure.

Hand hygiene is also crucial for both staff and clients. Encourage good habits by making hand sanitizers prominent and accessible, and instructing good hand-washing techniques in washrooms.

Waiting room tips:
1. Sick animals should be brought into a designated “sick” exam room as quickly as possible.
2. Minimize healthy animal time spent in communal waiting areas.
3. Immediately clean and disinfect any surface known to be contaminated by excretions or fluids form any animal, regardless of health status.
4. Clean and disinfect waiting areas according to your clinic’s protocols.

Exam Rooms
Things can get hectic in the exam rooms during peak times, so good communication is key. Consider implementing a color-coded door marker system to designate the level of cleaning required after each exam. The American Animal Hospital Association recommends in their Infection Control, Prevention, and Biosecurity Guidelines² that practice teams assign clear roles and responsibilities among staff members to make sure that biosecurity measures are put in place and enforced. Make sure to leave enough time between exams to thoroughly clean the areas using surface cleaners and disinfectants as indicated based on the type of visit, and make good use of effective personal protective equipment (PPE) to limit human exposure to infection during patient interactions.

Procedure Areas
Although clients do not see procedure rooms, it is essential to maintain regular protocols to ensure they are kept as clean as possible, not only to prevent nosocomial infection, but also to guard the health of your staff.

Create specific areas to isolate sick animals and communicate policies for their handling. General practice-wide cleaning to prevent the spread of infectious pathogens is essential; outlining a process for your team to follow and ensuring this is actioned via a checklist or log will have the biggest impact on your practice’s hygiene approach.

Boarding Biosecurity
Boarding services can add to your bottom line but bring their own considerations for  biosecurity. If you regularly welcome boarders, ensure you have a policy in place for required vaccinations. Communicate this clearly and require proof if hosting non-client animals.

Be vigilant when monitoring the health of animals staying with you and isolate them should you suspect illness. Disinfect frequently and ensure disposal of waste is secure. Limit traffic from boarding areas into the general clinic, and consider requiring shoe covers and other barrier garments for those moving between zones.

Keeping your practice as clean as possible can reduce the chances of common diseases spreading within or leaving your facility³. It might seem like extra work, but the cost of an outbreak will be much higher. Outlining and implementing biosecurity protocols are another way to provide care to your clients and patients.

Talk to your Covetrus® account manager for more information on hygiene and disinfectant products available from Covetrus, as well as continuing education and OSHA training opportunities.

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¹ One 1 One Health Commission https://www.onehealthcommission.org Accessed online October 6, 2022.

² Infection Control, Prevention, and Biosecurity Guidelines, American Animal Hospital Association, 2018 https://www.aaha.org/globalassets/02-guidelines/infection-control/icpb_guidelines.pdf. Accessed online October 13, 2022.

³ “Prevention of Zoonoses,” Anna Rovid Spickler, DVM, PhD, Iowa State University MSD Veterinary Manual, Revised June 2016. https://www.msdvetmanual.com/public-health/zoonoses/prevention-of-zoonoses. Accessed online October 6, 2022.