Infection prevention and control

Infection prevention and control measures can assist in reducing the potential for organisms to develop resistance to antimicrobials. Measures can be implemented in veterinary clinics, during surgery and other procedures, and on farms. 

What can you do?

Veterinarians and veterinary staff should:

• practise good hand hygiene
• use personal protective equipment (PPE) when needed
• refer to the Australian Veterinary Association’s resources and videos on Veterinary personal biosecurity
• disinfect equipment
• use environmental cleaning methods
• implement good animal husbandry practices to help prevent disease
• keep animal vaccinations up to date to avoid the need for antibiotics
• use aseptic techniques during surgical and non-surgical procedures
• segregate animals to avoid spread of infection in waiting rooms, clinics and on farms
• maintain high standards of hygiene in waiting and consulting rooms, cages and pens
• use farm biosecurity planning resources to identify major biosecurity risks, manage these risks, and reduce the need to use antibiotics. Available resources include:
  • the BIOCHECK biosecurity plan
  • the farm biosecurity plan.

You can find further details about infection control procedures through the Australian Veterinary Association’s:

• Code for infection control
• Guidelines for veterinary personal biosecurity.