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Angus, the paws-itive hospital asset, hits the road for more spaniel-sniffing infection control duty

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The English springer spaniel credited with detecting and preventing superbug infections at Vancouver General Hospital is now lending his canine snout and germ detective duties to other hospitals in B.C.

Angus sniffing for evidence of C. Difficile at Vancouver General Hospital
Angus sniffing for evidence of C. Difficile at Vancouver General Hospital

Angus and his trainer/handler, Teresa Zurberg – who started work at Vancouver General Hospital in 2016 – went to Kelowna General Hospital Monday. Angus used his scent-tracking capabilities to detect minute reservoirs of Clostridium difficile (C. diff), a fecal bacteria, in a few spots on two hospital wards. Dr. Bing Wang, an infection control specialist at Interior Health who helped arrange the visit by Angus and Zurberg, said she was impressed by the dog’s curiosity, efficiency and professionalism as he used his scent-tracking abilities to find toxins in the bacterial organisms that cause C. diff. infections. In a brief period of time, Angus detected spores on a metal rack used for hospital equipment and on a hospital bed. 

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“Having him here raises our awareness for environmental hygiene,” she said.

The Okanagan hospital is the first outside Vancouver Coastal Health where Angus has gone with Zurberg. Within VCH, he’s also worked at Lion’s Gate and Richmond hospitals to help identify areas that need more focused sanitizing to prevent the spread of C. diff which can produce bowel-damaging toxins, causing severe diarrhea, abdominal pain, and even death in patients with weakened immune systems.

C diff infections can be acquired when people touch items contaminated with feces and then touch their mouths. Sterile surfaces and handwashing are of paramount importance in the prevention of such infections. In 2016-17 there were 2,423 cases of C. diff among hospital patients in B.C. That figure doesn’t include cases acquired outside acute care facilities. About two-thirds of cases are acquired in acute care hospitals. 

Dog handler Teresa Zurberg with Angus and former health minister Terry Lake last year.
Dog handler Teresa Zurberg with Angus and former health minister Terry Lake last year. Photo by Pamela Fayerman

It was exactly a year ago when former health minister Terry Lake granted Angus his official working dog status and badge after he passed a probationary period and proved his worth. Angus signals (with a sit) that he’s found C. diff; he’s rewarded with a bit of kibble, praise or playtime. Then hospital disinfection staff clean the spot in a patient room, clinical area or equipment more thoroughly. “Having Angus has led to enhanced cleaning in the right places,” said Vancouver Coastal Health spokeswoman Carrie Stefanson.

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C. diff infections have been gradually dropping over the last five years but VGH officials are hesitant to attribute improvements directly to Angus. In 2016-17, there were 123 cases at VGH (4.9 per 10,000 hospital in-patient days) while at the Kelowna hospital there were 71 cases (5.2/10,000). In the second quarter of the 2017-18 fiscal period, the most recent period for which such information is available, the provincial C. diff new case rate was 3.5/10,000 hospital in-patient days or 228 new cases, the lowest rate and number in about four years. 

VGH has allocated $150,000 as a budget for the canine detection activities. The cost covers treats, trainer’s fees, educational resources and other disinfection initiatives. Another spaniel named Dodger has also started work at VGH with a different handler employed by Zurberg.

Allison Muniak, executive director of patient safety-quality and infection control at Vancouver Coastal Health, said with the addition of a second dog, the health authority can start making arrangements with other hospitals outside the Vancouver region so they can also benefit from the dogs’ skills. 

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She said Angus has taught hospital officials that even staff locker rooms can be reservoirs for bacterial transmissions. After Angus found C. diff in hospital staff lockers, practices were changed so that shoes worn in the hospital are now wiped with antibacterial cloths and placed on racks, no longer inside the lockers. The cubbies are also getting cleaned with disinfectants, she said.

“The handlers and the dogs have taught us to look at problems different ways. They’ve substantially raised our level of awareness and education,” Muniak said.

Zurberg said Angus finds C. diff reservoirs five or six times a week. Areas full of clutter have provided plenty of fodder for his attention. Medical equipment gets stashed in corners and may be neglected insofar as hygienic cleaning, she said.

She said Angus has not suffered any health problems since his duties began. “I’m pretty paranoid and overprotective over him. But there have been no issues.” 

To keep track of Angus’ activities, follow him on Facebook.

pfayerman@postmedia.com

Follow me on Twitter.

READ MORE ABOUT ANGUS HERE

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