QUARTERLY BEAT
JULY 2026
RESOURCES
This case is not about blame. It is about recognizing how quickly routine work can become high risk when systems are weak or shortcuts become normalized. Infection control cannot be separated from the rest of workplace safety. It has to be built into the way we think, the way we move, and the way we work. Take Home Message: This is what infection control looks like in real life. It is not one dramatic failure. It is a series of small decisions, each of which makes the next problem more likely. When it works well, it is not a checklist. It is a system. PPE matters, but it only works when it is part of a broader system built on risk recognition, layered controls, and standard precautions that hold even when the day gets busy.
• Williams CJ, Scheftel JM, Elchos BL, et al. Compendium of veterinary standard precautions for zoonotic disease prevention in veterinary personnel: National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians Veterinary Infection Control Committee 2015. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2015;247(11):1252-1277. doi:10.2460/ javma.247.11.1252. • Stull JW, Bjorvik E, Bub J, et al. 2018 AAHA infection control, prevention, and biosecurity guidelines. J Am Anim Hosp Assoc. 2018;54(6):297-326. doi:10.5326/JAAHA-MS-6903. • Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Personal Protective Equipment. OSHA 3151-02R; 2023. U.S. Department of Labor. • National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Hierarchy of Controls. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Updated April 10, 2024. • Tomas ME, Kundrapu S, Thota P, et al. Contamination of health care personnel during removal of personal protective equipment. JAMA Intern Med. 2015;175(12):1904-1910. doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2015.4535. • Brannick K. Zoonotic Agents in Veterinary Medicine: Practical Risk Awareness for the Modern Clinician. VETgirl CE Webinar. September 9, 2025. • Brannick K. Zoonotic Diseases in Veterinary Medicine: Shifting the Focus from Treatment to Prevention. VETgirl CE Webinar. December 9, 2025.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Infection control is a team effort: every role matters, from the front desk to the surgeon. • PPE is the last line of defense: always start with the hierarchy of controls and work downstream • Use a simple risk assessment: What is the hazard? How does it spread? What if I'm wrong? • Standard precautions apply to every patient, every time: you cannot identify carriers by clinical appearance alone • Build systems that make compliance easier: good infection control should be the path of least resistance, not the path of most paperwork
ABBREVIATIONS
Please note that the opinions in this blog are expressed by the speaker and not directly endorsed by VETgirl.
• NASPHV: National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians • NIOSH: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health • PPE: personal protective equipment
WEBINAR HIGHLIGHTS
16 VETGIRL BEAT EMAGAZINE
VETGIRLONTHERUN.COM
Made with FlippingBook - Online Brochure Maker