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Bacterial Cross-Contamination in a Veterinary Ophthalmology Setting
Dominic Gentile1, Rachel A Allbaugh1, Mehmet C Adiguzel2,3
1Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, United States.
Frontiers in Veterinary Science
|January 11, 2021
Summary
Bacterial cross-contamination is prevalent in veterinary ophthalmology, posing risks for patients and staff. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus pseudintermedius (MRSP) was identified, underscoring the need for advanced diagnostics to prevent healthcare-associated infections.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Medicine
- Infectious Diseases
- Microbiology
Background:
- Healthcare-associated infections are a significant concern in clinical settings.
- Bacterial cross-contamination in veterinary ophthalmology can compromise patient and staff safety.
- Understanding contamination pathways is crucial for implementing effective infection control measures.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of bacterial cross-contamination in a veterinary ophthalmology environment.
- To identify specific bacteria, including multi-drug resistant pathogens like MRSP, present on equipment and surfaces.
- To assess the genetic relatedness of bacterial isolates from patients and their surroundings using pulse-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE).
Main Methods:
- Retrospective and prospective study involving 28 companion animals with ulcerative keratitis.
- Bacterial cultures from patient corneas, examination room surfaces, and ophthalmic equipment.
- Antibiotic susceptibility testing and PFGE for genetic relatedness analysis of isolates.
Main Results:
- Overall contamination rates: 42.9% for equipment, 23.7% for environment, and 32.9% for examination rooms.
- Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus pseudintermedius (MRSP) isolated from 8.2% of samples.
- PFGE indicated patient cornea as the source of MRSP cross-contamination in 50% of identified pairs, with some differing antibiotic susceptibility profiles.
Conclusions:
- Significant bacterial cross-contamination exists in veterinary ophthalmology settings, necessitating improved hygiene protocols.
- The presence of MRSP highlights the zoonotic potential and risks associated with multi-drug resistant organisms.
- Advanced techniques like PFGE are vital for accurately assessing cross-contamination and guiding infection control strategies.
