Duration of carriage of multidrug-resistant bacteria in dogs and cats in veterinary care and co-carriage with their owners.

Background: The emergence and spread of multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) represent a threat to human and animal health.

Objectives: To assess duration of carriage of MDROs in dogs and cats presented to veterinary clinics/hospitals in Switzerland. To estimate prevalence, duration of and risk factors for MDRO carriage in their owners and the occurrence of co-carriage in owner-pet pairs.

Hand hygiene compliance in companion animal clinics and practices in Switzerland: An observational study.

Background: Hand hygiene (HH) is one of the most important measures to prevent healthcare-associated infections. Data on HH compliance in companion animal veterinary institutions in Europe are sparse.

Methods: This observational study assessed HH according to WHO standards in three large and two medium-sized clinics and two primary care practices in Switzerland.

Acquisition and carriage of multidrug-resistant organisms in dogs and cats presented to small animal practices and clinics in Switzerland.

Background: The emergence and spread of multidrug-resistant organisms (MDRO) present a threat to human and animal health.

Objectives: To assess acquisition, prevalence of and risk factors for MDRO carriage in dogs and cats presented to veterinary clinics or practices in Switzerland.

Animals: Privately owned dogs (n = 183) and cats (n = 88) presented to 4 veterinary hospitals and 1 practice.

Poor infection prevention and control standards are associated with environmental contamination with carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales and other multidrug-resistant bacteria in Swiss companion animal clinics.

Background: Intensive medical care in companion animal clinics could pose a risk for the selection and dissemination of multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs). Infection prevention and control (IPC) concepts are key measures to reduce the spread of MDROs, but data on IPC standards in companion animal clinics is sparse. The study assessed IPC standards in seven companion animal clinics and practices in Switzerland by structured IPC audits and combined results with environmental MDRO contamination and MDRO carriage of the personnel.