Noise levels in an academic veterinary intensive care unit.

Objective: To quantify the noise levels in a veterinary Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and ascertain how they compare to current recommendations in the human literature.

Design: A Larson Davis SoundTrack LXT Sound Meter device measured noise levels in a veterinary ICU for 41 days.

Setting: Specialty referral academic small animal teaching hospital ICU.

Animals: Passive involvement of dogs and cats housed in the ICU during the study period of 41 days.

Interventions: No alterations to the hospital environment or patient care were made.

Measurements: A-weighted average (LAeq) and maximum decibel measurements (LFmax) were recorded. The data were analyzed to look for correlations in elevated noise levels with the number and type of patients hospitalized, the time of day, and whether it was a weekday or weekend.

Main Results: The average, median, and maximum decibel levels measured in our ICU were 76.97 dB(A), 76.13 dB(A), and 86.54 dB(A), respectively, for the duration of this study. The time frames of 6:00 am to 9:00 am and 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm were associated with higher decibel levels in this study.

Conclusions: The noise levels recorded in this study exceed the World Health Organization recommendations for noise levels in hospital care settings and are higher than the previously reported elevated noise levels in 2 veterinary referral private practice ICUs. Increased noise levels in veterinary ICUs may have adverse effects on our veterinary patients and staff and warrant further investigation.