In a pandemic, it’s more important than ever for us to all work together to ensure that our infection control protocols are playing their part in preventing us from getting sick. Even the best infection control program will only be effective if it works in the real world. We all have a role to play in responding to the critical challenges that COVID-19 presents.
Here at Virox Animal Health, we hope to take a small step in helping your facility deal with this challenge. In addition to offering safe, effective disinfectants, we also have a variety of resources dedicated to helping you implement a robust infection prevention program. Our onboarding website LearnAboutRescue.com is home to a range of educational videos, ‘how-to-use’ guides, and a cleaning and disinfection protocol tool that can be customized for your facility.
When it comes to the basic things we can do to protect our facilities, Rescue™ pre-saturated wipes can help. Due to the “wipe and toss” protocol and rapid contact time, they can be used as the first line of defence in interrupting the chain of transmission. Rescue™, formulated with Accelerated Hydrogen Peroxide®, is approved for use against some of the world’s most dangerous pathogens under the EPA Emerging Viral Pathogen guidance, including SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Here are a few tips for using wipes to minimize your risk of infection:
- Remove any unnecessary equipment or items from exam rooms, to make the space easier to clean and disinfect.
- Frequently wipe high-touch surfaces. This might include:
- Door handles
- Light switches
- Keyboards and computer mice
- Phones
- Desktops, tabletops
- Wipe down exam tables after contact with each animal. This will minimize the risk of transmission from any dirt or debris that the animal may leave behind.
- Wipe medical equipment (stethoscopes, otoscope handles, etc.) after contact with each animal.
- Wipe grooming equipment (scissors, brush handles, etc.) after contact with each animal.
- Use Rescue™ wipes for spot cleaning cages:
- First, pre-clean heavily soiled areas.
- Then, wipe the cage, starting from the cage ceiling, progressing to the back wall and sides of the cage, and finishing with the floor of the cage (from the least to most contaminated surface).
- Finish by wiping the outside of the cage door, and finally the inside of the cage door. Use a new wipe for this final step if the initial wipe becomes visibly soiled.
Although the current climate may be one of fear and uncertainty, it’s important to keep in mind that we can all take precautions to do our best to stay healthy. In times like these, implementing robust infection prevention throughout your facility is the best investment you can make. We’re here to help.