Develop, apply and monitor infection control in a veterinary practice

This standard is about developing, applying and monitoring infection control in the veterinary practice.  This includes the standards required for managing risk prevention in a veterinary practice, by using the appropriate infection control methods.

This standard is suitable for registered veterinary nurses.

1. develop the relevant infection control strategies for different areas of the veterinary practice
2. apply and monitor the relevant infection control strategies for different areas of the veterinary practice
3. assess the risks to health and safety of yourself and colleagues involved in applying different infection control procedures in the veterinary practice
4. assess the risk of exposure of yourself and colleagues to infectious micro-organisms, before, during and after each activity you undertake
5. select and use the required method for decontamination, disinfection or sterilisation of the veterinary practice
6. select and use the required method of hand hygiene
7. select and use suitable clothing and personal protective equipment (PPE)
8. carry out and monitor different veterinary practice infection control procedures
9. identify and report any hazards, problems, or evidence of potentially infectious conditions to all those involved in, or affected by infection control
10. apply relevant barrier nursing or isolation techniques when caring for veterinary patients
11. provide advice to clients on the risks of infection and how to minimise them
12. report any personal health conditions that may increase the risk of transmission of diseases to yourself and colleagues
13. complete records in accordance with the procedures of the veterinary practice
14. dispose of waste materials according to the relevant legislation and veterinary practice procedure
15. comply with relevant animal health and welfare legislation
16. carry out all work in accordance with the relevant environmental and health and safety legislations, risk assessment requirements, codes of practice or business policies

1. the importance of developing relevant infection control strategies for different areas of the veterinary practice
2. the types and use of decontamination, disinfection and sterilisation techniques used to monitor infection control in a veterinary practice
3. the relevant hygiene protocols for the different areas of the veterinary practice to minimise the spread of infection and contamination
4. the different methods of hand hygiene and the current best practice
5. the types and use of clothing and personal, protective equipment (PPE) required for infection control in the different areas of the veterinary practice
6. how to apply, monitor and maintain barrier nursing or isolation techniques within a veterinary practice
7. the range of medical conditions or surgical procedures that may require barrier nursing or isolation techniques within a veterinary practice
8. the veterinary practice policies for access to different areas of the veterinary practice, including zoning and protective barriers
9. the use of veterinary practice surveillance programmes when monitoring infection control within a veterinary environment
10. the advice that should be given to clients to minimise infection risks with their animals
11. the actions that should be taken before, during and after a veterinary procedure to minimise the risks of exposure to infectious agents and cross-contamination
12. the medical principles and causes of infection, cross-infection, transmission and colonisation
13. the medical and environmental principles of bio-security within a veterinary practice
14. the meaning and significance of the terms "pathogenic", "non-pathogenic", "zoonotic", "notifiable", "infectious" and "contagious"
15. the zoonotic risks to yourself, colleagues, clients and the wider public
16. why it is important to report any personal health conditions that may increase the risk of transmission of diseases to yourself and others
17. the importance of completing records to assist with infection control within a veterinary practice
18. the sources of information on infection control and where to obtain them
19. how to segregate and dispose of the different categories of waste produced within a veterinary practice
20. the relevant regulations relating to the handling and storage of potentially hazardous substances
21. your responsibility under the relevant animal health and welfare legislation, environmental and health and safety legislations, codes of practice and business policies

Personal health conditions:

to include immunosuppression and allergies, ringworm, MRSA, zoonosis