Environmental Recovery of Nosocomial Bacteria in a Companion Animal Shelter Before and After Infection Control Procedures

Abstract

While the effects of cleaning and disinfection practices on the reduction of environmental nosocomial bacteria are well-established in human and large animal veterinary hospitals, how animal movements within animal health care facilities influence environmental bacterial recovery is poorly understood. During three consecutive weeks, 155 electrostatic wipes were collected from the environment pre- and post-cleaning only or following disinfection from seven target locations within an animal shelter. All samples were cultured, and isolates were identified using a matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization—time of flight mass spectrometry. Social network analysis of animal movements during the sampling period was performed to estimate the level of connectivity of the seven target locations. The relationship between bacterial levels and connectivity estimates of the target locations were investigated using a negative binomial regression model with a random effect of sampling areas. Overall, our results indicate a significant reduction in the total bacterial contamination with disinfection when compared to cleaning only [Coefficient (Coef.) = −1.72, 95% Confidence Interval (CI) = −3.09, −0.34, P = 0.015]. Higher total bacterial contamination was significantly more likely in sampled areas with less animal movement connectivity (Coef. = −0.32, 95% CI = −0.49, −0.15, P ≤ 0.001). Pseudomonas aeruginosa and ampicillin resistant Enterobacteriaceae (Escherichia coli, Enterobacter spp. and Klebsiella spp.) were present in the animal holdings and in the shelters' veterinary clinic environment at all sampling times. Our findings demonstrate that cleaning followed by disinfection practices are effective at reducing environmental bacterial levels. Areas with less animal connectivity are more likely to have a higher bacterial contamination. These areas could represent environmental reservoirs for bacterial infection and should be targeted with effective cleaning and disinfection protocols.

Massive Spread of OXA-48 Carbapenemase-Producing Enterobacteriaceae in the Environment of a Swiss Companion Animal Clinic

“…ARM-positive samples were commonly retrieved from areas with no patient contact, such as the kitchen, the laboratory, and the toilets. In a recent study conducted at a companion animal shelter, these areas were reported to have a high bacterial contamination [ 35 ]. Thus, areas with little to no patient contact in a veterinary clinic could pose a reservoir for ARM and a focus should also be placed on these locations when implementing cleaning and disinfection protocols.…”

Assessment of listing and categorisation of animal diseases within the framework of the Animal Health Law (Regulation (EU) No 2016/429): antimicrobial‐resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa in dogs and cats

“…P. aeruginosa has been previously listed as a concern for transmission in small animal clinics with challenges highlighted as lesser patient compliance and hygiene (Stull and Weese, 2015). The bacterium was repeatedly isolated from bedding and the veterinary clinical environment before and after infection control intervention at a dog shelter (Horsman et al, 2020). The presence of P. aeruginosa in the surrounding environment and the data regarding transmission of P. aeruginosa in certain settings (Fothergill et al, 2012) may mean that the bacterium could be transmitted horizontally between susceptible animals (those with a breach to normal defence barriers or underlying health issues) in certain settings, such as veterinary inpatient facilities or homes with multiple animals/animal shelters.…”