Hospital-associated infections (HAIs), also known as nosocomial infections, are infectious diseases contracted by patients while hospitalized and they are an apparent threat in both human and veterinary medicine.
HAIs are a well-known cause of infection as well as loss of life in health care facilities, with an approximated 5% of service users developing an HAI and hundreds of thousands dropping dead every year. Hospital-associated infections (HAIs) arise in veterinary hospitals too, and their prevalence is expected to rise.
There is a scarcity of information on HAIs in veterinary clinics. In certain ways, threats might well be relatively low since veterinary patients have a smaller percentage of lengthy hospitalizations, are tremendously immunocompromised, and endure extremely invasive practices than people.
This may be offset by increased patient hygiene issues, increased problems with patient obedience (e.g., licking wounds), as well as a weaker “culture” of preventing infection. Animals with HAIs may require longer hospitalization (with accompanying increased costs to the client or clinic).
Such patients could experience long-term health implications or even death. MDROs are frequently linked to HAIs, distorting medical intervention as well as culminating in poor health outcomes and widespread diseases. Take into account, however, that not every hospital-associated infection is discovered during hospitalization.
Animals might become infected in the hospital but will not show clinical symptoms of the infection until they are discharged.
Infectious diseases that take place within 30 days after hospital release are usually classified as hospital-associated/community-onset infections. Hospital-associated infections are especially concerning since they can jeopardize a patient’s immunity.
Common Healthcare-Associated Infections in Veterinary Hospitals
The following are some of the most common healthcare-associated infections in veterinary clinics.
Urinary tract infections
Catheter-associated UTIs are among the most prevalent HAIs in veterinary healthcare. Catheter-associated bacteriuria has been diagnosed in 10% to 32% of hospitalized dogs, with a small segment of such clearly displaying symptoms or other proof of disease.
These bacteria might well be causative to the patient, starting in the rectum or perineum, or they could come from the healthcare setting or individuals via contamination of the drainage system or bag. If the collection system is infected, bacteria might enter the bladder via the catheter in the event of backward urine flow.
Backward urine flow could indeed take place when the collection system is raised up far above the patient’s level, when collection lines are drained, or when there is a fluid interruption in the collection system.
Bloodstream infections
One of the most significant elements for the growth of catheter-related (CR) BSIs has already been identified as the length of catheterization (most coming up after 4–5 days of placement). According to veterinary research findings, jugular as well as intravenous catheters are regularly infected with enteric or environmental bacteria.
Many variables, such as dextrose infusion, lengthier period of catheter placement, and patient immunosuppression, have indeed been linked to intravenous catheter infection/colonization in dogs and cats. Contamination is possible through the grip of those who place or handle the catheter, the patient’s own flora, or the clinical setting.
Nevertheless, there are a few scientific studies to prove that soiled but not corrupted catheters (i.e., catheters from which pathogens might be separated but the catheter insertion area as well as vein are medically normal) present a danger for BSI.
Pneumonia
Numerous considerations in clinical therapy, including lying position, mechanical ventilation, and the utilization of endotracheal or nasogastric tubes, are almost certain to raise the threat of HA pneumonia. Given the severely restricted use of mechanical ventilation, this subject has received little attention in the veterinary sector.
Aspiration pneumonia, while not incorporated in the human surveillance description, is frequently seen in small animal medicine and therefore can happen in patients admitted to a hospital.
Conditions that significantly raise aspiration pneumonia, including laryngeal or esophageal disorders as well as reduced mentation or recumbency, probably rise HAI threat in conjunction with many of those enumerated for human HA pneumonia.
If such patients have already been admitted to a clinic for several days prior to aspiration, the oropharynx is somewhat more inclined to be inhabited with pathogens from the clinical setting or the palms of personnel, and the pneumonia is often more probable to incorporate MDROs, especially if patients have already been handled with antimicrobials.
Infectious Diarrhea
Whenever there is an uptick in contagious diarrhea in hospitalized patients, contagious diarrhea HA gastrointestinal infections are commonly identified. Even though identifying diarrhea seems to be simple, determining the root, even among recognized bacteria, is frequently challenging.
Salmonellosis is perhaps the most commonly mentioned gastrointestinal disease in small animal veterinary establishments; nevertheless, it is unknown as to if this happens because it presents the highest danger or (more probably) since it is quite easily detected.
Even though HAIs in veterinary healthcare are difficult to quantify, they are undisputedly a major worry. Human commensals with highly contagious pathogens are depicted by HAIs in veterinary medicine due to the frequent encounter among veterinary personnel and patients, in addition to the frequently poor hand hygiene habits demonstrated in veterinary clinics.