Online
Veterinary Nurse Training Online (www.veterinarynursetrainingonline.org)
offers information for veterinary nurses and other practice staff on veterinary
issues. There you will find information on MRSA, information on preventing
hospital-acquired infection and a photographic tour of a veterinary practice
showing situations that commonly occur. You will also have an opportunity to
obtain a Certificate of Achievement by taking a multiple-choice questionnaire
on the knowledge you have gained.
The Webinar Vet is proud to support the work of The Bella Moss Foundation
and held a webinar on MRSA last year with all profits going to the Foundation.
This is still available to view in our Free Webinar Section. Further webinars
are planned in conjunction with The Bella Moss Foundation; our joint aim
is to promote continuing education within the Veterinary Profession.
For more information, sign up to receive our newsletters via our homepage
at www.thewebinarvet.com.
MRSP has now emerged as an important animal health risk. This multidrug resistant
bacterium has increased dramatically as a cause of skin, ear and surgical site infections.
Often much more resistant than MRSA, some MRSP infections (especially orthopaedic
surgery-associated infections) can lead to long-term, expensive, often frustrating and
sometimes futile treatment courses. MRSP poses a clear and significant risk to the
pet population and highlights the need for careful attention to patient management,
antimicrobial use, infection control and disease surveillance, to limit its impact.
Has your practice encountered MRSP and is it prevalent in the areas from
which your patients are drawn?
MRSP and MRSA, like all staphylococci, have the ability to persist for many months
in the environment. They are also able to transfer to both vets and owners handling
infected animals, who may then pass these organisms on to animals which they
encounter. MRSP is a particular hazard because it is adapted to animals. Both MRSA
and MRSP can transfer to infected animals being treated with systemic antimicrobials.
Do you keep records of nosocomial infections occurring within your practice?
Have you reviewed your practice hygiene protocols and their ability to deal with
this threat?
Broad-spectrum systemic antimicrobials have been incriminated as factors promoting
multiresistant bacteria. Prudent antimicrobial use recommends the use of narrow
spectrum agents when possible.
Have you developed guidelines for antimicrobial use in your practice which will
promote responsible and prudent use of antimicrobial drugs?
www.thebellamossfoundation.com
email: info@thebellamossfoundation.com
telephone: 07860 879 079