Specially trained dogs are being used to sniff out Clostridioides difficile (C diff) to help guide environmental cleaning efforts, according to an article on the Contagion website.
C diff is especially challenging as it produces spores that are very tough to kill, which makes disinfection a hurdle.
Vancouver Coastal Health is using C diff canine scent detection. The trained dogs can detect C diff with 97% accuracy.
A Vancouver team has trained two dogs and is working on getting more through the program. The dogs also increase staff engagement and have helped reduce environmental contamination.
What Does Light Daily Cleaning Miss in Patient Rooms?
Smart Lighting Overhaul Boosts Efficiency, Diagnostics and Wellness at Bryan Health
AdventHealth Opens New Freestanding ER in Florida
Dirty Floors: How Pathogens Can Accumulate and Spread Underfoot
WellSpan Health Opens Its Newberry Hospital in Pennsylvania