Novice Support: Hazard Control and Prevention of Infection

Biosecurity Concepts

In prior coursework, you may have learned about the concepts of infectivity, virulence, and pathogenicity.  Be sure to review these concepts (if you have not received this information yet, it is summarized below).  The infectivity, pathogenicity, and virulence of a pathogen (or pathogens) of key concern may influence the decision on what types of PPE are used or protocols in putting on (called donning) or taking off (called doffing) PPE. As a reminder,

• Infectivity is the ability of an organism to penetrate and reproduce in a host; it does not imply disease;
• Pathogenicity is the ability of an organism to cause disease;
• Virulence is the ability of organism to cause severe disease or death.

A pathogen can be relatively high, low or vary across these measures.

Pathogens

You can educate yourself by referencing your veterinary school notes or key texts or websites.  Examples include the following:

• Textbooks
  • Companion animal zoonoses. Edited by J. Scott Weese, Martha B. Fulford
  • Infectious diseases of the dog and cat.  Edited by Craig E. Greene
  • Canine and feline infectious diseases. Edited by Jane E. Sykes
  • Control of communicable diseases manual, 20th edition
  • Veterinary medicine: a textbook of the diseases of cattle, horses, sheep, pigs and goats
• Websites
  • 2018 AAHA Infection Control, Prevention and Biosecurity Guidelines
  • Center for Food Security & Public Health
  • Heroes for Healthy Pets: Webinar introducing veterinary infectious disease transmission and infection control. This is a 2-hour, free certificate program providing RACE CE credits. 

Visit this website to learn/review the route(s) of transmission, animal species most commonly involved and zoonotic potential of specific pathogens.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

If you are new to the general topic of PPE, you may find the following resources helpful:

• Iowa State University, Center for Food Security and Public Health – Animal Disease Information: Contains fact sheets on numerous pathogens in veterinary medicine.
• Heroes for Healthy Pets: Webinar introducing veterinary infectious disease transmission and infection control. This is a 2-hour, free certificate program providing RACE CE credits.