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Tip of the week: Take precautions when pets visit

Infection Control Monitor, June 29, 2007

There are numerous factors hospitals should consider to help ensure that visits from pets and infection control (IC) standards are in harmony with one another.

One measure infection control professionals can take is to train animal handlers on your IC safety policies and procedures. Ensure that handlers are aware of the risks of having pets near patients and how to handle unexpected occurrences. Patients are often so happy to see an animal that they don't think about infection risks. Handlers should think about those risks for them, says Kathy Aureden, an epidemiology coordinator at Sherman Hospital in Elgin, IL, and a member of an APIC Practice Guidance team that is participating in animal visit guideline development.

For more precautions ICPs should consider, go to www.hcpro.com/content/72827.cfm. The cost is $10. Briefings on Infection Control subscribers received this story with their subscriptions.

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