The VNs role in the prevention of hospital acquired infections A HAI is classified as an infection that occurs: • up to 48 hours after hospital admission • up to 3 days after discharge • up to 30 days after an operation • in a healthcare setting when the patient was admitted for reasons other than an infection Causes of HAIs Bacteria, fungus, and viruses can cause HAIs. In human medicine bacteria alone cause about 90% of cases. Patients who are immunocompromised are at increased risk of contracting an infection during hospitalisation. These microorganisms spread mainly through person-to-patient contact from unclean hands; medical and hospital equipment. HAIs also increase with excessive or incorrect selection of antibiotics, which can lead to emergence of antibiotic resistance bacteria. The most common types of HAIs are: • Surgical site infections • Intravenous catheter and arterial line associated infections • Catheter-associated urinary tract infections • Pneumonia Preventing nosocomial infections A 70% decrease in HAI can be seen when a team is taking steps in prevention and veterinary nurses are well positioned to be at the forefront of infection control within the veterinary practice. In this session we will focus on specific areas where veterinary nurses can have a real impact. General recommendations could include: • Correct kennel selection (is isolation/barrier nursing needed) • Focus on exceptional 5-point hand hygiene • The availability and correct use of personal protective equipment • Correct cleaning of clinical environments • Correct ventilation • The use of strict aseptic techniques (IV catheter care, blood sampling, urinary catheter care etc.) • Removal of unnecessary indwelling devices as soon as no longer required • Provision of high-quality nursing care.

Transparency is a buzzword in human healthcare that emerged nearly two decades ago, when, in 1999, the Institute of Medicine released the controversial report, To Err is Human. This report estimated that 44,000-98,000 people die every year in the United States because of preventable medical errors. The publication concluded that medicine is imperfect, but can be improved when dialogue is initiated about how to reduce errors. Transparency implies full disclosure and open communication, even when the topic makes the provider vulnerable. For example, transparency requires that the provider be truthful about a medical error. This creates an ethical dilemma for the provider, who may feel morally obligated to share, yet fear retribution. Medical mistakes are not the only circumstance in which transparency may be warranted or desired. This webinar will introduce the communication skill of transparency and highlight how its use may be incorporated into clinical practice in a way that builds the veterinary-client relationship.

Infection control is still in its infancy in veterinary medicine, but the field is advancing, as are expectations. Many risks to patients and personnel are inherent in any veterinary facility, but a practical infection control program can help reduce these risks. The epidemic of antimicrobial resistance is driving change in veterinary medicine because of increasing rates of antimicrobial resistant infections, the potential for veterinary clinics to disseminate resistant pathogens and potential health risks to veterinary personnel and owners. Every veterinary facility should have some form of infection control program. While this may sound daunting, a practical infection control program can be implemented by any veterinary clinic with little expertise, time commitment and cost. This webinar will outline a variety of concepts relating to implementation of a practical infection control program.