Animals in Healthcare Facilities: Recommendations to Minimize Potential Risks

@article{Murthy2015AnimalsIH,
  title={Animals in Healthcare Facilities: Recommendations to Minimize Potential Risks},
  author={Rekha K. Murthy and Gonzalo M. Bearman and Sherrill Brown and Kristina K Bryant and Raymond Chinn and Angela Hewlett and B Glenn George and Ellie J. C. Goldstein and Galit Holzmann-Pazgal and Mark E. Rupp and Timothy L. Wiemken and Jeffrey Scott Weese and David J Weber},
  journal={Infection Control \&\#x0026; Hospital Epidemiology},
  year={2015},
  volume={36},
  pages={495 - 516}
}
Animals may be present in healthcare facilities for multiple reasons. Although specific laws regarding the use of service animals in public facilities were established in the United States in 1990, the widespread presence of animals in hospitals, including service animals to assist in patient therapy and research, has resulted in the increased presence of animals in acute care hospitals and ambulatory medical settings. The role of animals in the transmission of zoonotic pathogens and cross… 
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89 Citations
Highly Influential Citations
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Background Citations
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Methods Citations
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89 Citations

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The importance of public health interventions, including vaccination for patients and health care personnel, and outline the responsibilities of the health care provider related to prompt public health notification for specific reportable diseases are outlined.
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In this chapter, authors consider infection control and the benefits of FCC, family and sibling visitation, the use of playrooms, animals in healthcare settings including animal-assisted interventions, the potential adverse effects of infection control practices, and strategies to mitigate these impacts.
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Best practice guidelines and policies should be developed and implemented in nursing homes to address requirements for different animal ownership models, range of animal species, and staff knowledge.
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