Farm Animal Isolation Protocols

Purpose of Isolation:

  • The Isolation Unit is designed to house patients that fall into designated infectious disease categories as outlined in the FA infectious disease chart. Please review all information regarding Isolation requirements below and contact an area Supervisor to be properly trained on Isolation Protocols before placing an animal in this space.

Criteria for animals that must be placed under Isolation

  • Please see the infectious disease chart for specific clinical symptoms, suspected pathogens and recommended PPE/isolation practices.
  • Presence of diarrhea in calves less than 1 month of age requires housing in Isolation until Cryptosporidium testing is available.
  • If a patient displays 2 or more of the following 3 criteria, it has to be placed into Isolation immediately.
    • Diarrhea
      • Presence of hemorrhagic diarrhea in calves <1 month of age necessitates housing in Isolation even in the absence of fever or neutropenia until series of 5 negative Salmonella PCR & Culture are obtained.
    • Fever
    • Neutropenia

Exceptions

  • Exceptions to the above criteria will be made on a case by case basis through consultation with the EFAVC Director, IDC Committee, and Farm Animal Medicine faculty on clinics.

Use of Isolation and Communication

  • Isolation status requires mandatory clear communication from the attending clinician to the EFAVC Technical and Attendant Staff and both EFAVC Supervisors. This can be accomplished by emailing the LAZoonotic@lists.ncsu.edu email listserv. 
  • Any case suspected of having infectious disease housed within the main hospital for any period of time must be communicated to the EFAVC Director.
  • Patients diagnosed with or suspected of having a zoonotic disease require further special management, including contact logs and mandatory communications.
  • A patient that has had diarrhea and tested positive for Salmonella should remain in isolation until retested & negative through a series of 5 Salmonella PCR + culture as indicated within the EFAVC Biosecurity Surveillance Program Policy. This restriction does not limit patients from being discharged to private facilities, rather only specifies the requirements necessary to return the patient to the main hospital for continued hospitalization.
  • A patient that has had diarrhea and tested positive for Cryptosporidium spp. should remain in isolation for a minimum of 2 weeks and must test negative for Cryptosporidium through 3 consecutive immunofluorescence/acid fast tests with a minimum of 8 hours between each collection prior to being released into the main hospital for housing. This restriction does not limit patients from being discharged to private facilities, rather only specifies the requirements necessary to return the patient to the main hospital for continued hospitalization.
  • Approval from the EFAVC Director is required for patients housed within Isolation to graze or be exercised outside of their stall.
  • The client will be informed and educated about Salmonella or Cryptosporidium when any patient tests positive for either pathogen regardless of the clinical status. Education on other infectious and/or zoonotic diseases should also occur as warranted by an attending clinician.
  • If an animal in isolation is to be discharged to a client’s property, the discharge comments must clearly state that:

Isolation unit setup and management

  • Occupied isolation units will be identified by red barriers. The designated area shall be entirely enclosed by red barriers, leaving no gaps in the barrier. The enclosed area will include the covered area, exterior to the nursing station.
  • Each isolation unit shall have posted copies of the Isolation Flyer and the PPE instructional poster.
  • Each occupied isolation unit will contain
    • A storage unit containing pertinent medical supplies
    • A designated trash can, broom, manure fork, shovel, twitch, lead rope, dust pan, and patient designated care kit.
    • Clean PPE should be conveniently located on the exterior of the Isolation area for clean PPE application. Refer to the posted PPE instructions for proper procedures.
  • All trash, bedding, waste, etc shall be loaded into a red cart and incinerated.
    • Exterior of the red cart should be kept clean or disinfected when contaminated.  Wheels should be disinfected upon removal of the red cart from the contaminated area.
  • Isolation units shall be kept clean and organized at all times.  Taking care to avoid shavings or debris contaminating surrounding, non-restricted areas.

Standard Isolation PPE

  • Disposable boots, gloves, and coveralls (and hair covers if hair hangs below the collar). Face shields and masks shall be worn when applicable as indicated on the FA Suspect Infectious Disease Chart.
    • Clean PPE should be applied prior to entering the Isolation area
    • Long hair hanging below the collar must be tied up off shoulders
    • Hats and other accessories (including personal stethoscopes) must be removed and left outside of the stall
    • PPE should be applied and removed following this PPE instructional poster.

Equipment use in Isolation

  • Equipment used while providing care to an isolated animal must be appropriately disinfected or sterilized before it can be used for another animal.

Diagnostic Testing and Sample Collection

  • Diagnostic testing can facilitate timely diagnosis and inform decisions regarding removal of an animal from isolation. Suggested diagnostic tests could include fecal examination (Salmonella spp., Cryptosporidium spp.), respiratory pathogen identification, abortion panels, or other relevant laboratory tests.
  • Fecal samples must be collected for Salmonella PCR & culture in accordance with the EFAVC Biosecurity Surveillance Program Policy.
  • In the situation where an animal is strongly suspected to have  an infectious disease, including zoonoses, that necessitates Isolation housing, yet diagnostic testing is not performed, the animals will remain in Isolation.

Permanent withdrawal from Isolation

  • As general practice; animals admitted into isolation should not be transferred to the general hospital population or main facility.  They should remain in isolation through their entire stay and be discharged from isolation.
  • In cases of a precautionary placement in isolation where all potentially contagious conditions have been ruled out, animals may be removed from isolation and hospitalized in the main facility following approval from the EFAVC Director, who will consult an additional member of the Infectious Disease Committee as needed.

Safety

  • Access to Isolation requires orientation by an EFAVC supervisor, technician, clinician, or house officer.
  • Students must notify a staff member or clinician before visiting an occupied stall.
  • Staff members should notify another staff member when visiting an occupied stall. Two people must be physically present if the patient is ataxic, neurologic, or in any way unstable.
  • If a student or staff member is to visit an isolation stall housing an adult bovine, a second staff member or clinician must also be physically present.

Visitors (Non-CVM persons)

  • It is the general rule that visitation is not permitted in Isolation, however, in extenuating circumstances or end of life decision making, visitation may be allowed at the discretion of the attending clinician.
  • Visitors must be oriented by the attending clinician or house officer, including on proper ppe use, safety precautions, health risks, risk to other animals, etc.
  • Visitor must be accompanied by a service member at all times, no exceptions
  • Visitors are not permitted to immediately re-enter the EFAVC main hospital after visiting the isolation area. The clinician or house officer shall instruct the visitor on how to properly decontaminate themselves to avoid transmission to animals or people.  Instructions shall include proper laundering/disinfection of clothing, shoes, and person.  Upon proper decontamination the visitor can return to the EFAVC and enter the main hospital.