Читать книгу Infectious Disease Management in Animal Shelters - Группа авторов - Страница 81

Disease surveillance takes time and resources to do well. An effective surveillance program must be valued, planned, and well‐executed. Written protocols governing what, where, when, and by whom each component will be performed are essential.

Several staff members are usually involved in data collection during an animal's passage through the shelter system. For infectious disease surveillance, shelter intake (for denominators) and medical data (for numerators) are obviously needed, but data related to movement, outcomes, daily observations and other events could also be important to address questions that arise from surveillance. Quality and completeness of all relevant data are key components. Everyone involved with data collection must be trained and held accountable for providing good data. Without explicit protocols, staff may be unsure of how, what, when, and where to collect specific pieces of information.

How and by whom the data will be routinely analyzed should be clear. This includes the metrics (e.g. incidence, mortality) and subgroups of animals to monitor, the trends to track, and any other metrics that are important to the shelter's medical‐related goals.

Since disease risk frequently varies by age group, source (e.g. stray), and over time, separate incidence rates should be calculated for each of these factors. Data can contradict common beliefs. For example, after reviewing Figure 3.1, medical staff members were surprised that the incidence (or risk) of feline upper respiratory tract disease (URTD) was actually higher in the fall and winter months than in the spring and summer. Further analyses demonstrated that this was true among both kittens and adult cats. The staff did see more sick cats in the spring and summer, but the cat intake was also much higher. With these results, the shelter heightened its adherence to its preventive protocols in the fall and winter. Similarly, surveillance data can confirm suspicions and provide evidence to change behavior and shelter protocols. A veterinarian had the clinical impression that the survival rate among fostered un‐weaned kittens could be improved by making changes to their management in foster homes; foster care providers were resistant to change. The data (see Figure 3.2) demonstrated a survival rate of only 71%. The providers were unaware of this rate, and they also found it unacceptable. The veterinarian updated protocols and made presentations to explain the basis for the changes. Over the next several years, survival rates increased to over 90%.

Figure 3.1 Incidence rate of URTD among cats by season.

Figure 3.2 Annual survival rates of un‐weaned kittens in foster care 2011–2014.

Routine monitoring and analysis of data augment the daily observations of the medical staff, adding to their understanding of the state of the health of the population. When routinely incorporated into population care, data surveillance can improve the health and welfare of shelter animals.