Veterinary ScienceSafety & Sanitation

Why is the knowledge of safety & sanitation important in veterinary medicine?Potentially hazardous situations working with animalsHazardous chemicals, animal wastes & x-rays

OSHAOccupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA)Regulates & monitors employee safety in the work placeDeveloped guidelines: Hazard Communication Standard (HCS)Right to knowMSDS

MSDSMaterial Safety Data SheetIncludes 8 sections:Manufacturer InformationHazard Ingredients/ Identity InformationPhysical/ Chemical CharacteristicsFire and Explosion Hazard DataReactivity DataHealth Hazard DataPrecautions for Safe Handling and UseControl Measures

MSDSMaterial Safety Data SheetManufacturers must provide one for every chemicalEmployers must provide training:Hazards of specific chemicalsUse of protective clothingHow to use MSDS

Physical HazardsMost common type of injury in vet hospitalAnimal injuries bites, kicking, scratchesBack injuries improperly lifting heavy objects or animalsFalls on wet floorsExposure to x-rays Wear proper clothing & footwear, learn animal behavior, handling & restraint techniques.

Chemical HazardsDrugsCleaning agentsInsecticidesAnesthetic gasesMany are used routinelyCan cause damage to skin, eyes, lungsSome may cause abortions and/or fetal abnormalities

Biological hazardsLiving tissue and organismsBloodUrineLive vaccinesMedical waste that has had contact with living tissue (urine soaked blankets, bandage material, etc.)Needles and scalpels Sharps

Biological hazardsMedical wastes must be sterilized, incinerated, or chemically disinfected before they are disposed of.Gloves & protective clothing should be worn when handling biohazards

Zoonotic hazardsAny disease that can be passed from animals to humansViruses, bacteria, parasites & fungi can cause zoonotic diseases

Zoonotic hazardsVirusesRabies (Hydrophobia)Sleeping Sickness (Encephalitis)BacteriaCat Scratch FeverLeptospirosisSalmonellosisBrucellosisAnthraxTuberculosisParasitesSarcoptic mangeToxoplasmosisVisceral Larva Migrans (Toxocariasis)Creeping Eruption (Ancylostomiasis)FungusRingworm

Preventing spread of diseasesVaccinate animals & humansProper waste disposalIsolate infected animalsProper handling of infected animalsProper sanitation of hospitalHand washingWearing protective clothing

Safety signs & equipment DangerRadioactiveBiohazardDosimeterLead GlovesBack BraceWet FloorLead Apron

Drug Use and safety1970: Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention & Control ActTitle II: Controlled Substances ActRegulate the manufacture & distribution of drugsMust keep drugs in a locked container that only approved people have access toDaily Log

Drug SchedulesSchedule I: no medical use high abuseHeroin, Methaqualone, LSD, Peyote, Psilocybin, Marijuana, Hashish, Hash Oil, amphetamine variants.Schedule II: accepted medical use high abuseDilaudid, Demerol, Methadone, Cocaine, PCP, Morphine, and cannabis, amphetamine and barbiturate types.Schedule III: accepted medical use medium abuseOpium, Vicodan, Tylenol w/codine, and narcotic, amphetamine and barbiturate types. Schedule IV: accepted medical use low abuseDarvocet, Xanax, Valium, Halcyon, Ambien, Ativan, barbiturate types. Schedule V: accepted medical use very low abuseLomotil, Phenergan, liquid suspensions.

Types of SanitationSanitation-process of keeping something free of any elements that would endanger health.Cleaning physically removing all visible signs of dirt and organic matter such as feces, blood, hair, etc.Disinfecting destroying most microorganisms on nonliving things by physical or chemical means

Types of SanitationSterilizing destroying ALL microorganisms and viruses on an object using chemicals and/or heat under pressure Antiseptics solutions that destroy microorganisms or inhibit their growth on living tissue

Commonly Used chemicalsAlcohols ethyl alcohol, isopropyl alcohol, ethanolAldehydes gluteraldehyde, formaldehydeChlorine bleachIodine and Iodophors Betadine, iodineQuaternary ammonias Centrimide, Quatsyl-D

AlcoholEffective against gram positive & gram negative bacteriaIrritating to tissues

ALdehydesEffective against gram positive & negative bacteria, fungi & most virusesIrritating & toxic to tissues

ChlorineEffective against gram positive & negative bacteria, fungi & most virusesIrritating & toxic to tissuesCheapest, most effective chemical disinfectant

Iodine & IodophorsEffective against gram positive & negative bacteria & fungiStains & irritates tissues

Quaternary AmmoniasEffective against gram positive & negative bacteria, some fungi & some virusesDeodorizes

Methods of SanitationPhysical cleaning using a chemical with a mop or spongeCold sterilization soaking items in a disinfectant chemical until they are usedDry heat incinerating an object or exposing it to flameRadiation using ultraviolet or gamma rays, expensive & dangerous

Filtration removing particles from the air using a physical barrierUltrasound passing high frequency sound waves through a solution to create a vibration that scrubs an object to remove debrisAutoclave a sealed chamber in which objects are exposed to heat and steam under pressure