Routine measures to prevent the spread of MRSA:

• Correctly perform hand hygiene between each patient (follow SOP for hand washing and applying handrub).
• Disinfect surfaces and any equipment used (see appendix A).
• Staff should carry antibacterial gels/rubs to use in between handling patients.
• The correct uniform should be worn.
• Disposable gloves and aprons should be worn when in contact with bodily fluids and other contaminated materials.
• Cover existing wounds or skin lesions with a waterproof dressing and avoid invasive procedures if you have a skin lesion on your hand.
• Isolate patients with, or suspected of having, an infectious infection.
• Rational use of antibiotics to minimise the development and spread of antibiotic resistance.
• Follow high standards of aseptic technique for all invasive procedures. This includes: minimise theatre staff, use sterile gowns, sterile gloves, hats and masks. Sterilise equipment and restrict use to a single patient. Effective disposal of contaminated material, appropriate hand-hygiene and disinfection between each patient.
• High standard of ward cleaning.
• Kennels should be cleaned and inpatient bedding replaced once daily.
• Kennels should be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected in between each patient.
• Soiled bedding should be cleaned or disposed of.
• Refer to SOP’s for cleaning. See Appendix A for disinfectant dilution rates.
• Correct segregation of all waste. Careful handling of clinical waste and its transport in a seal bag. Sharps should be placed in an approved container.
• Refer to SOP clinical waste.
• Sterilise all instruments and equipment appropriately using disinfectant and the autoclave or EO.

Appendix A - Disinfectants

• We use Anigene as our disinfectant.
• It is made up daily for kennels and cattery in yellow buckets at a concentration rate of 1:100 (10ml Anigene to 1ltr water).
• We have spray bottles with 1:100 concentration in consult rooms, pharmacy, prep room, dental, laboratory, kennels, cattery, radiography, theatres. It is used to clean surfaces between each patient.
• We use a concentration on 1:100 to clean all floors, made up daily and disposed of correctly at the end of the day. Yellow bucket and yellow mops: kennels, cattery, waiting room. Green bucket and green mops: prep room, radiography, dental, scrub. Blue bucket and blue mops: both theatres.
• For cleaning isolation, we made up Anigene at a concentration of 1:50 in spray bottles, bucket and mop bucket
• Red bucket and red mops – Isolation
• Mop heads are washed in the washing machine at 60.c after each use.
• Clean all windows and glass daily with Flash Anti-bac Plus.

Prepared by VetNurse.co.uk. V1. 28/9/2023