Identification of the bioaerosol microbiota in veterinary clinics as the key to preventing nosocomial infection

Abstract

Nosocomial infections are important in veterinary medicine clinics, as they can contaminate surfaces and infect animals through bioaerosol and are the cause of ineffective antibiotic therapy. This paper presents a study of the effect of disinfection on the microbiota of bioaerozoic veterinary clinics. The purpose of this study was to establish the composition of the bioaerosol microbiota in veterinary clinic premises before and after disinfection with ultraviolet bactericidal lamps. Bioaerosol samples were taken in the premises of veterinary clinics by sedimentation method. Identification of the isolated microbiota was performed using classical methods involving commercial test systems for identifying microorganisms. It was established that the permanent microbiota of the bioaerosol of veterinary clinics includes the following representatives of gram-positive genera: Staphylococcus (coagulase-negative species), Streptococcus spp., Micrococcus spp., and Corynebacterium spp. These bacterial genera were present in the bioaerosol of all rooms in 100% of cases. Gram-negative species of bacteria were found in small quantities in the bioaerosol of such rooms as for the primary examination and the manipulation area with boxes for keeping sick animals. Representatives of gram-negative species were detected in a considerably larger number from the bioaerosol of the dental operating room during the day of the clinic. After disinfection with bactericidal lamps, pathogens of nosocomial infections (S. aureus, S. pseudintermedius, Acinetobacter baumani, P. aeruginosa) were released in the bioaerosol of such rooms as the primary examination, the manipulation area with boxes for keeping sick animals, and the dental operating room. This indicates that bioaerosol can serve as a medium for the spread of nosocomial infections among animals in veterinary clinics. Thus, conducting microbiological monitoring of bioaerosol in veterinary clinics will allow identifying pathogens of nosocomial infections and introducing preventive measures for the spread of pathogens