Angela Willemsen1
1School of Public Health, The University of Queensland, Australia
Biography:
Angela is a veterinarian in Brisbane, Australia, who loves all things infection prevention and control (IPC). She began her veterinary career working in small animal practice and continues to provide home-based palliative and end of life care.
Her first career as a (human) registered nurse laid the foundation for IPC and her interest in public health. This strongly influenced her transition into veterinary medicine, where she developed a keen interest in IPC, zoonotic diseases and antimicrobial stewardship. Angela has mentored veterinary practices and also works as a Research Officer in Public Health at The University of Queensland (UQ), with a focus on One Health.
Her PhD from UQ explored IPC in small animal veterinary practices with a key outcome being the development of the ACIPC Veterinary Foundations of IPC Course, designed to address gaps and improve IPC across the veterinary profession.
She is an active member of the AVA Australian Veterinarians in Public Health SIG, ASID Zoonotic Diseases SIG, PHAA One Health SIG and the APIC Veterinary SIG.
Abstract:
Infection prevention and control within veterinary practice has evolved significantly over the past 25 years. Moving from ad hoc measures to more structured and evidence based practices are increasingly being recognised as essential across all contexts.
Veterinary professionals not only promote animal health and reduce infection risk but also contribute to reducing the risk of zoonotic disease transmission to humans. Strengthening antimicrobial stewardship is now acknowledged as a key factor of IPC, especially within the broader framework of One Health.
This presentation will provide the transition of veterinary IPC practices over the past 25 years, including the supporting governance structures, education initiatives, and the challenges encountered along the way. It will also provide my vision for sustained improvement in veterinary IPC in the next 25 years.