Animal Bites

Animal bites can be a source of infection, trauma, and zoonotic diseases. An animal bite is defined as a bite wound that penetrates the skin, causing bleeding and swelling at the area. Pasteurella is present in more than 50% of dog bite wounds and 90% of cat bite wounds. Other bacteria that may present in animal bites include Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Streptococcus spp., Bacteroides spp., Fusobacterium spp., and other gram-negative bacteria. In people, these bacteria can cause fever, septicemia, meningitis, endocarditis, and septic arthritis. Any team member who is bitten by a patient should wash the area well with warm, soapy water for at least 5 minutes, apply a dilute Betadine solution, then rinse with a strong stream of water. The team member should consider seeking medical attention, taking into account the potential risk for infection.

Moving Equipment

When moving equipment, multiple employees should be involved. If the equipment is heavy, more than one person must be responsible for the lifting. Another team member should ensure the entryway is clear of clutter and debris that would trip the team members. One team member should be allowed to lift up to 40 lb if he or she is able. Anything over 40 lb requires additional team members.

Wet Floors

When floors are being mopped, they can become extremely slippery. Signs that indicate a wet floor should be posted around the wet area, and team members should dry the wet area as soon as possible with a dry towel (Figure 21-1). Team members and clients should be encouraged to walk around the wet area. However, the sooner it is dry, the less likely it is that a slip or fall will occur. Team members are encouraged to wear nonskid shoes to help prevent slips in the veterinary practice.

Running

Team members should not be allowed to run through the practice, regardless of how busy the practice is. Running increases the risk of slipping, especially on wet surfaces. An employee may have finished mopping the floor and just be setting the signs out; if a team member is running through the area at the same time, he or she will not know the floor is wet.

Lifting

Team members must learn how to lift properly to prevent back injury (Figure 21-2). Lifting must always be done with the legs rather than the back; women are especially prone to use their backs. Team members should watch out for each other and guide others when lifting objects to ensure the back is kept straight and the legs are used to the maximum potential. It should be instituted that animals over 40 lb must be lifted by two team members to prevent back injuries.

Many people believe that they can lift animals very easily; they are strong and would never injure their backs. This is untrue; the second most common workplace hazard in veterinary medicine is a back injury. Most injuries occur over time, and prevention methods must be instilled in all employees to prevent injury.

Toxicities

There are many possibilities for toxic exposures in veterinary medicine. Chemical exposure can come in the form of cleaning supplies, chemotherapy, x-ray developer solutions, and medications that are dispensed or used in the hospital for patients.

The mixing of two or more chemicals can create caustic fumes that are harmful to both team members and patients. The fumes may not seem harmful, and at times may even smell good, such as combining bleach and a lemon disinfectant; however, prolonged exposure may be dangerous.

Every team member is exposed to chemotherapy agents (discussed in further detail later in this chapter) if they are administered in the veterinary practice. Many chemotherapeutic agents are expelled in the urine and feces of pets; therefore each time the animal eliminates in the cage, some of the drug is left behind. Therefore team members may be exposed to the drug unknowingly.

Radiology developer rooms should be ventilated to the outdoors because the chemicals used to develop radiographs are strong and harmful. If the developer and fixative mix for some reason, the chemical released can be caustic. The chemical used to develop radiographs can be poured down the drain, but the fixing solution must be collected by a specialized company because it can be damaging to the environment. This applies to both used and unused fixative.

It is often forgotten that when handling medication, excess drug powder and residual collects on the hands. Various types of medications are handled as team members count and dispense medications for owners or pull medications to treat patients. If team members do not wash their hands immediately after handling medications, they may ingest the substance or wipe it onto their faces. Many drugs appear to be safe, but repeated ingestion may not be safe. Some drugs are known to have side effects. Chloramphenicol, for example, may suppress bone marrow production in individuals who have a reaction to it. Unfortunately, this reaction is not known for months, or even years, after the exposure to the drug. It is essential that all team members wash their hands immediately after handling medication, just as hands are washed immediately after handling an animal, to prevent the accidental ingestion of medications.

Stay updated, free articles. Join our Telegram channel

Join