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Table 3 Summary results of hygiene evaluation data from a cross-sectional study of 113 sites in a University Veterinary Hospital, according to A, type of surface and B, site sampled

From: Improving infection control in a veterinary hospital: a detailed study on patterns of faecal contamination to inform changes in practice

Characteristics (No. of samples)

Median RLU/cm2 (interquartile range)

Median CFU/cm2 (interquartile range)

Number (%) of samples exceeding the microbial threshold (≤ 2.5 CFU/cm2)

Number (%) of sites with faecal bacteria isolated

Enterococcus species

Escherichia coli

A. Type of surface

 Floor (18)

199.6 (128.2 – 478.7)

0.7 (0.1 – 5.8)

6/18 (33.3)

4/18 (22.2)

3/18 (16.6)

 Door, fridge door, and freezer door (21)

100.6 (40.8 – 307.9)

0.3 (0.2 – 2.0)

2/21 (9.5)

3/21 (14.3)

0/21

 Tap and worktop (11)

146.4 (75.9 – 201.9)

0.5 (0.1 – 2.3)

3/11 (27.3)

0/11

0/22

 Dog kennel: floor, drain, door handle, and shoreline concrete (10)

575.9 (283.8 – 1001.6)

3.1 (0.2 – 18.1)

5/10 (50.0)

5/10 (50.0)

2/10 (20.0)

 High touch surfaces (HTS):

Keyboard & mouse, fluid pump, syringe driver, anaesthetic machine, Bair Hugger warming device, portable SpO2, X-ray machine, ultrasound machine, and telephone (45)

47.6 (22.6 – 124.8)

0.5 (0.1 – 1.3)

10/45 (22.2)

16/45 (35.5)

4/45 (8.9)

 Other: couch, bed, instrument trolley, table, pen, and handle (8)

92.7 (25.6 – 172.3)

0.8 (0 – 1.4)

0/8

3/8 (37.5)

0

 All surfaces (113)

  

26/113 (24.5)

31/ 113 (27.4)

9/113 (7.9)

B. Site sampled

B1. Small animal

 Consult room, induction room, ICU, medicine treatment room, dog kennels, and surgery room (58)

132.9 (35.8 – 446.2)

0.6 (0 – 1.4)

12/58 (25)

21/58 (36.2)

5/58 (8.6)

 Emergency clinic (14)

64.8 (24.7 – 140.7)

0.3 (0 – 0.9)

2/14 (14.3)

4/14 (28.6)

0/14

 Operating theatre for 'dirty' procedures(4)

67.8 (41.4 – 94.7)

0.1 (0 – 0.2)

0/4

1/4 (25)

0/4

B2. Large animal

 Treatment room, surgery suite, and tutorial room (18)

170.6 (88 – 278.4)

2.2 (0.6 – 18.1)

8/18 (44.4)

3/18 (16.7)

3/18 (16.7)

B3. Area shared by small and large animal clinics

 Diagnostic imaging room (X-ray & ultrasound machines) (5)

46.8 (9.9 – 77.6)

0.3 (0.1 – 0.5)

0/5

0/5

0/5

B4. Other locations

 Staff common room and nurses’ tea station (5)

131.8 (74.9 – 146.4)

0.3 (0 – 1.6)

1/5 (20.0)

0/5

0/5

 Corridor, outside small animal ward, reception, student computer, and dispensary (9)

105.5 (67.2 – 165.3)

0.5 (0.2 – 3.1)

3/9 (33.3)

2/9 (22.2)

1/9 (11.1)

 All sites (113)

  

26/113 (23)

31/113 (27.4)

9/113 (7.9)