Impact of storage on sterility of surgical instruments in autoclave bags

Multiple studies in the field of human healthcare have demonstrated the ability of sterilisation packaging materials in maintaining barrier integrity for several months post sterilisation. For...

Initial treatment of wound patients

Immediate consideration of the patient's major body systems should be performed; this involves assessment of the ABC's — airway, breathing and circulation. These parameters should be examined in all...

How to carry out initial treatment of traumatic wounds: assessment, preparation and lavage

Most of the wounds seen in veterinary practice are as a result of trauma. The initial triage and assessment of trauma patients focuses on the major body organ systems; the ‘ABCD’ of triage focuses on...

How to care for the bite wound patient

A multi-modal approach to analgesia should be selected in the bite wound patient, the first line analgesic of choice being an opioid, either pure agonist, such as methadone or morphine, or a partial...

How to achieve effective hand hygiene

Portner and Johnson (2010) highlight that there is a substantial amount of information and recommendations regarding incidence and control of nosocomial (hospital-acquired) infections in the human...