Anna Blishen1
1 Scone Equine Hospital, PO Box 280 Scone, NSW, 2337, anna.blishen@sconeequine.com.au
Abstract:
Infection prevention and control (IPC) practices and procedures are fundamental in the Australian human healthcare system. The veterinary sector uses IPC principles in its day-to-day work to prevent infections, however many veterinary clinics do not have well-established IPC plans, and the IPC roles embedded in the human healthcare sector are not part of routine veterinary practice.
Scone Equine Hospital (SEH) offers on-site surgery and intensive care hospitalisation, dedicated laboratory facilities as well as in-the-field patient care. Equine veterinary practice has many areas that crossover with human health however the nature of the patients (horses), and the environment in which our equine veterinarians work presents some unique challenges in the IPC space.
SEH recently set up an IPC committee to advise on and oversee IPC practices, coinciding with a move into a new purpose-built facility. The move offers many benefits but has also raised new issues, highlighting the need to improve IPC across all operations of the business. The initial target areas for IPC improvement include hand hygiene, antimicrobial stewardship, waste disposal, and cleaning. Early improvements, the barriers and challenges that have arisen, and future goals are presented.