Information for the public

One of our key clinical priorities is to protect our patients, visitors, staff and students from the risk of infections, including those caused by viruses, bacteria (germs) or parasites (worms). To best achieve this, we use guidelines produced by international organisations, including the World Health Organisation. We also undertake our own research pertaining to infection control within veterinary species and publish our findings so that results can inform future decision-making.

What are we doing to prevent infection?

Our Infection Control Team works closely with the clinical staff and managers from across the campus to minimise the infection risk to patients, clients and staff. We meet at least every 3 months and report directly to the School Executive Team.

All our staff and students who work with animals have regular training on infection prevention and control. Our students have formal theoretical and practical training in infection control from very early in their undergraduate course, including hand hygiene and responsible antibiotic use.

We carry out audits to check that students and staff comply with our strict infection control policies, and regularly collate information on rates of infections we see in our patients. This information is critically reviewed to help reduce these rates as much as possible.

Hand hygiene

• The best way to prevent infection from spreading is good hand hygiene.
• At the earliest opportunity, we train our students on the best ways to wash their hands.
• Staff members are required to clean their hands with liquid soap and water or alcohol gel before and after they come into contact with patients and their environment.
• We undertake hand hygiene training and audits to check that staff and students are following our hand hygiene policy.
• All our clinical areas contain hand gel dispensers in numerous locations, including at the entrance to every ward and beside patient housing.
• There are posters and signs around the hospital to remind staff, students and visitors to keep their hands clean at all times.

Environmental cleaning

Keeping the environment clean is also important.

• Senior nurses, cleaning contractors and others regularly check that hospital equipment and the environment are clean.
• There is an ongoing programme of daily and deep cleaning throughout the hospital.
• Our theatre staff undertake all cleaning of theatres and we have a dedicated team to ensure that all surgical equipment is sterile.

Antibiotic control

Antibiotics kill bacteria (germs) that cause infections. However, inappropriate antibiotic use may encourage bacteria to become resistant, which renders the antibiotic ineffective.

We have strict antibiotic policies and our dedicated pharmacists regulate and report safe antibiotic use. These policies are updated regularly.

Infection Surveillance

We have a dedicated surgical site infection surveillance programme to track infections that occur after surgery. We monitor infection levels regularly and report these results to our Hospital Board.

Our laboratory team also report bacteria results to our Infection Control Committee, particularly where resistant bacteria have been identified. This allows us to be proactive in identifying and tackling sources of infection at the earliest opportunity.