Effect of the implementation of infection prevention and control concepts and hand hygiene campaigns in companion animal clinics in Switzerland

• Research unit: FSVO
• Project number: 1.21.08

Key words (German)

Antibiotikaresistenz, antibiotikaresistente Keime, Kleintierklinik, Haustiere, Infektionsprävention und -kontrolle, Hygiene, Handhygiene, Kampagne, One Health

Key words (English)

Antimicrobial resistance, antimicrobial resistant pathogens, companion animal clinic, pet, infection prevention and control, hygiene, hand hygiene, campaign, One Health

Short description (German)

Die intensive medizinische Versorgung von Kleintieren birgt das Risiko der Entwicklung und Ausbreitung antibiotikaresistenter Mikroorganismen (ARM). Die Vorgängerstudie zeigte, dass die Standards in Infektionsprävention und -kontrolle (IPK) in Kleintierkliniken/-praxen in der Schweiz stark variieren, dass tiefe Standards in Kliniken mit ausgeprägter Umgebungskontamination und Kolonisation der Patienten mit ARM einhergehen, und dass die Handhygiene generell unzureichend war. Nahe verwandte Carbapenemase-produzierende Enterobacterales (CPE) bei Patienten, Personal und in der Umgebung und ein CPE Ausbruch in einer der Kliniken zeigen die Dringlichkeit, IPK in diesem Umfeld zu fördern. Die vorliegende proof of concept Studie hat zum Ziel, den Effekt der Implementierung von IPK Konzepten und Handhygiene Kampagnen auf IPK Standards, Umgebungskontamination und Einhaltung der Handhygiene in Kleintierkliniken in der Schweiz zu evaluieren. Damit wird die Basis für gesetzliche Mindestvorgaben und die Entwicklung von digitalen Lern- und Selbstevaluationstools zu IPK und Handhygiene gelegt.

Short description (English)

Intensive medical care in companion animal clinics harbors the risk for the development and spread of antimicrobial resistant microorganisms (ARM). The previous study showed that infection prevention and control (IPC) standards vary considerably among companion animal clinics and practices in Switzerland, that low IPC standards in clinics are associated with extensive contamination and colonization of patients with ARM, and that hand hygiene is generally poor. Closely related carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales (CPE) in patients, personnel and the environment and a CPE outbreak in one of the study clinics underline the urgent need to foster IPC in these settings. This follow-up project is a proof of concept study that investigates the effect of IPC implementation and hand hygiene campaigns on IPC standards, environmental contamination with ARM and hand hygiene compliance in Swiss companion animal clinics. The study will lay the basis for the implementation of minimum legal IPC requirements and for the development of digital self-evaluation and eLearning tools on IPC and hand hygiene in the future.

Project aims (English)

The study objectives are:

• Assessment of IPC standards, hand hygiene adherence, hand contamination, quality of cleaning and environmental contamination with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) und Staphylococcus pseudintermedius (MRSP), Extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Enterobacterales (ESBL-E), CPE and VRE before and after intervention

• Implementation of comprehensive IPC concepts and multimodal hand hygiene campaigns in companion animal clinics and follow-up after implementation

• Identification of barriers and facilitators for implementation

• Assessment of the effect of IPC implementation in an outbreak situation

Abstract (German)

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Related documents

• 1 21 08 ZUsammenfassung [PDF] 354 kB

Publications / Results (German)

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Related documents

• 1.21.8 Datenblatt [PDF] 351 kB

Publications / Results (English)

antibiotics-11-00213.pdf (unibe.ch)

Oral abstract presentation, 31^st annual ECVIM-CA congress 2021, 1–4 September 2021, online congress.

Dissemination of bla_OXA-48 carbapenemase- and extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae in a Swiss companion animal clinic

K.S. Schmitt, R. Stephan, B. Willi  (Award for the 2^nd best oral presentation, International Society of Companion Animal Infectious Diseases, ISCAID

Manuscript in preparation)

 

Further planned manuscripts:

1. Effect of IPC implementation on IPC standards and environmental contamination with ARM in five companion animal clinics in Switzerland
2. Effect of a multimodal hand hygiene campaign on hand hygiene compliance in five companion animal clinics in Switzerland
3. IPC standards, hand hygiene and patient colonization before and after IPC implementation in a clinic with an outbreak of Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae