Purpose & Background

This protocol establishes standardized infection control and patient isolation procedures to prevent the transmission of infectious diseases between patients, staff, and clients within the veterinary clinic. Inconsistent infection control practices are a leading cause of nosocomial (hospital-acquired) infections in veterinary settings and can result in disease outbreaks, zoonotic exposures, and regulatory citations. Adherence to this protocol aligns with AAHA Infection Control, Prevention, and Biosecurity Guidelines and California Department of Public Health zoonotic disease reporting requirements.

Scope & Delegation

Veterinarian. Authorizes isolation status for any patient, determines the level of isolation precautions required, and approves discontinuation of isolation. No supervision required.
Veterinary Technician. Implements isolation procedures, performs patient care within the isolation area, collects diagnostic samples, and trains veterinary assistants on isolation protocols. May perform these duties under indirect supervision of the attending veterinarian.
Veterinary Assistant. Assists with patient transport to isolation, performs cleaning and disinfection of isolation areas, and restocks PPE supplies under direct supervision of a veterinary technician or veterinarian.
Kennel Attendant. Performs routine cleaning and disinfection of isolation housing and common areas under direct supervision of a veterinary technician. Does not perform patient care or sample collection.

Definitions

Nosocomial infection. An infection acquired within a healthcare or veterinary facility, not present or incubating at the time of admission.
Zoonotic disease. An infectious disease that can be transmitted between animals and humans (e.g., ringworm, leptospirosis, salmonellosis, rabies).
Contact precautions. Infection control measures used when a pathogen is transmitted through direct or indirect contact, requiring gloves and gown at minimum.
Droplet precautions. Measures used when a pathogen is transmitted via respiratory droplets, requiring a surgical mask or respirator in addition to standard PPE.
PDMP. Prescription Drug Monitoring Program — referenced here only as a reminder that any controlled substances used in isolation cases must be logged per DEA requirements.
SDS. Safety Data Sheet — required documentation for all chemical disinfectants used in the clinic, accessible to all staff per OSHA 29 CFR 1910.1200.

Step-by-Step Guidance

Identify and flag the patient. At triage or check-in, screen every patient for signs of infectious disease: vomiting, diarrhea, coughing, sneezing, nasal or ocular discharge, skin lesions, or known exposure to an infectious agent. If any of these signs are present, immediately notify the attending veterinarian before the patient enters the general waiting area.
Activate isolation status. The attending veterinarian determines the isolation level required — standard contact precautions, droplet precautions, or full isolation — and communicates this verbally and in writing in the patient record. Flag the patient file and cage card with the appropriate isolation designation.
Direct the patient to the isolation area. Transport the patient directly from the entrance or exam room to the designated isolation ward, bypassing all common areas, treatment rooms, and wards. Use a dedicated transport carrier or leash that remains in the isolation area. Do not allow the patient to contact other animals or surfaces in general-use areas.
Don appropriate PPE before entering the isolation area. All personnel entering the isolation area must don PPE before crossing the threshold. At minimum, wear: disposable gloves, a fluid-resistant gown or coveralls, and closed-toe shoes with dedicated isolation footwear covers or dedicated isolation shoes. Add a surgical mask and eye protection for suspected respiratory pathogens. Add an N95 respirator for confirmed or suspected aerosol-transmissible pathogens (e.g., Bordetella, influenza).
Perform patient care using isolation-dedicated equipment. Use only equipment designated for the isolation area: stethoscope, thermometer, scale, IV supplies, and cleaning tools. Do not remove any equipment from the isolation area without disinfecting it first per the clinic disinfection protocol. Label all isolation-dedicated equipment clearly.
Collect diagnostic samples as directed. A veterinary technician collects samples (fecal, blood, nasal swabs, skin scrapings) per the attending veterinarian's orders while wearing full PPE. Place samples in sealed, labeled biohazard bags before transport to the in-house laboratory or reference lab. Document sample collection in the patient record immediately.
Doff PPE in the correct sequence upon exiting. Remove PPE in this order to prevent self-contamination: (1) remove gown by rolling outward, (2) remove gloves by peeling inside-out, (3) perform hand hygiene with soap and water for a minimum of 20 seconds, (4) remove eye protection by handling only the earpieces or headband, (5) remove mask by handling only the ties or ear loops, (6) perform hand hygiene again. Dispose of all single-use PPE in a designated waste receptacle at the isolation area exit.
Perform hand hygiene after every patient contact and PPE removal. Use soap and water (preferred for suspected parvovirus, Clostridium, or other non-enveloped pathogens) or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% ethanol for enveloped pathogens. Hand hygiene is mandatory before and after every patient contact, after removing gloves, and before leaving the isolation area.
Clean and disinfect the isolation area after each patient use. Remove all organic material (feces, vomit, blood, bedding) before applying disinfectant. Select a disinfectant appropriate for the suspected pathogen — refer to the clinic's approved disinfectant list and each product's SDS for contact time, dilution ratio, and required PPE. Allow the disinfectant to remain on surfaces for the full manufacturer-specified contact time before wiping or rinsing. Document the cleaning in the isolation cleaning log.
Notify the attending veterinarian of any zoonotic disease suspicion. If a zoonotic pathogen is suspected or confirmed (e.g., leptospirosis, rabies exposure, ringworm, salmonellosis), notify the attending veterinarian immediately. The veterinarian is responsible for reporting to the California Department of Public Health or local county health department as required by California Health & Safety Code Section 120175 and the California Code of Regulations Title 17.
Communicate isolation status to the client. A veterinary technician or the attending veterinarian informs the client of the isolation status, the suspected or confirmed diagnosis, any zoonotic risk to household members, and home care precautions. Document this communication in the patient record.
Discontinue isolation only upon veterinarian authorization. The attending veterinarian reviews the patient's clinical status and diagnostic results before authorizing removal from isolation. Update the patient record, remove the isolation flag from the cage card, and perform a final terminal disinfection of the isolation area before it is returned to general use.

Safety Considerations

Zoonotic exposure risk. Staff must be aware that pathogens such as leptospirosis, ringworm (Microsporum canis), salmonellosis, and rabies can be transmitted to humans. Any suspected human exposure must be reported to the practice manager immediately, and the exposed staff member should seek medical evaluation. California employers are required to maintain an Illness and Injury Prevention Program (IIPP) per California Labor Code Section 6401.7.
PPE selection must match the pathogen risk. Standard gloves and a gown are insufficient for aerosol-transmissible pathogens. Failure to use an N95 respirator when indicated (e.g., suspected canine influenza, Bordetella) places staff at risk of respiratory infection.
Disinfectant chemical hazards. Many veterinary disinfectants (quaternary ammonium compounds, bleach solutions, accelerated hydrogen peroxide) are irritants or corrosives. Review the SDS for each product before use. Ensure adequate ventilation in the isolation area when applying disinfectants. Do not mix disinfectants — bleach combined with quaternary ammonium compounds produces toxic chloramine gas.
Sharps safety. All needles, lancets, and sharps used in the isolation area must be disposed of immediately in a puncture-resistant sharps container located within the isolation area. Never recap needles using two hands. A needlestick in the isolation area must be treated as a potential zoonotic exposure.
Patient stress and handling risk. Infectious patients are often debilitated and may be more prone to biting or scratching due to pain or disorientation. Use appropriate restraint techniques and muzzles when indicated to reduce bite and scratch risk.

Common Pitfalls

Failure to identify infectious patients at triage. When screening questions are skipped at check-in, infectious patients enter the general waiting area and exam rooms, exposing other patients and staff before isolation can be initiated. This is the most common source of nosocomial outbreaks in veterinary clinics.
Incorrect PPE doffing sequence. Removing gloves after the mask, or touching the face before completing hand hygiene, transfers pathogens from contaminated PPE surfaces to mucous membranes. Staff must be trained and periodically observed performing the correct doffing sequence.
Inadequate disinfectant contact time. Applying disinfectant and immediately wiping it off renders the product ineffective. Many pathogens (parvovirus, Clostridium difficile) require extended contact times of 5–10 minutes or more. Rushing the cleaning process is a leading cause of persistent environmental contamination.
Using shared equipment between isolation and general areas. Bringing a stethoscope or thermometer from the isolation area into a general exam room without disinfection creates a fomite transmission pathway. All isolation-designated equipment must be clearly labeled and never removed without documented disinfection.
Delayed zoonotic disease reporting. Failing to promptly notify the attending veterinarian of a suspected zoonotic case delays mandatory reporting to public health authorities, which can result in regulatory citations and increased community exposure risk.

Clinical Notes

The choice of disinfectant is critical and must be matched to the suspected pathogen — no single disinfectant is effective against all veterinary pathogens. For example, quaternary ammonium compounds are ineffective against parvovirus and Clostridium spores, which require a bleach solution (1:32 dilution of household bleach) or accelerated hydrogen peroxide with the appropriate contact time. Clinics should maintain a pathogen-specific disinfectant reference chart in the isolation area and review it annually against current AAHA Infection Control, Prevention, and Biosecurity Guidelines.

Regulatory Compliance

California Department of Public Health (CDPH) & California Code of Regulations Title 17. Veterinarians in California are mandated reporters of certain zoonotic diseases including rabies, leptospirosis, psittacosis, and others. Reports must be made to the local county health officer within the timeframe specified for each disease (immediately for rabies; within one working day for others). Failure to report is a misdemeanor under California Health & Safety Code Section 120295.
OSHA — Bloodborne Pathogens Standard (29 CFR 1910.1030). While primarily written for human healthcare, California's Cal/OSHA enforces equivalent protections for veterinary workers exposed to animal blood and body fluids. Clinics must maintain an Exposure Control Plan, provide hepatitis B vaccination to at-risk employees, and document all exposure incidents.
OSHA — Hazard Communication Standard (29 CFR 1910.1200). All chemical disinfectants used in the isolation area must have a current SDS accessible to staff. Staff must be trained on the hazards of each disinfectant used. California enforces this standard through Cal/OSHA with penalties for non-compliance.
California Veterinary Medical Board (CVMB). The California Veterinary Practice Act (Business & Professions Code Section 4800 et seq.) governs delegation of veterinary tasks. Veterinary assistants may perform supportive tasks under supervision; only licensed veterinary technicians may perform technical procedures in the isolation area under indirect supervision of the veterinarian.

Required Documentation

Patient isolation record. Documents the date and time isolation was initiated, the isolation level assigned, the suspected or confirmed diagnosis, and the date and time isolation was discontinued. Completed by the attending veterinarian and veterinary technician. Retained as part of the patient medical record for a minimum of 3 years per California veterinary medical record retention requirements.
Isolation area cleaning log. Records each cleaning event: date, time, area cleaned, disinfectant used, dilution ratio, contact time, and the name of the staff member who performed the cleaning. Retained on-site for a minimum of 1 year.
Zoonotic disease report. Completed by the attending veterinarian and submitted to the local county health officer for all reportable zoonotic diseases. A copy is retained in the clinic's compliance file for a minimum of 3 years.
Staff exposure incident report. Completed by the exposed staff member and practice manager within 24 hours of any zoonotic exposure, needlestick, or bite/scratch incident in the isolation area. Retained in the employee's confidential health file for the duration of employment plus 30 years per Cal/OSHA requirements (29 CFR 1910.1020).