Discussion of the Compendium of Veterinary Standard Precautions: preventing zoonotic disease transmission in veterinary personnel

Veterinary practices are unique environments that bring humans into close contact with many different species of animals; therefore, the risk of exposure to infectious pathogens is inherently different in veterinary medicine than in human medicine. In contrast to the risk of exposure to blood in human medicine, infections from zoonotic diseases in veterinary personnel are primarily related to exposure to animal faeces, infected skin, wounds, droplets and puncture wounds. Infection-control measures in veterinary practices are often insufficient to prevent zoonotic disease transmission. The Veterinary Standard Precautions (VSP) Compendium is designed to help prevent transmission of zoonotic pathogens from animal patients to veterinary personnel in private practice.