Zoonotic Disease Prevention Flashcards
7 cards from real AAT practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Zoonotic Disease Prevention flashcards as text
A therapy dog handler notices the dog has mild diarrhea before a scheduled visit to a pediatric oncology ward. What is the most appropriate action?
Answer: Cancel the visit and consult a veterinarian before rescheduling
Any gastrointestinal symptoms in a therapy animal warrant veterinary evaluation and cancellation of visits, particularly in immunocompromised populations.
Which zoonotic pathogen is most commonly transmitted via contact with reptiles and is a key reason reptiles are generally excluded from AAT programs?
Answer: Salmonella spp.
Salmonella is carried asymptomatically by most reptiles and shed in feces, making reptiles unsuitable for AAT in healthcare settings.
An AAT program coordinator is reviewing hand hygiene protocols. Which hand hygiene method is LEAST effective at removing Cryptosporidium oocysts?
Answer: Alcohol-based hand sanitizer (60%+ ethanol)
Alcohol-based sanitizers do not reliably inactivate Cryptosporidium oocysts; soap and water with mechanical friction is required.
Cat scratch disease is caused by Bartonella henselae. Which AAT client population faces the highest risk of serious complications from this infection?
Answer: HIV-positive individuals with low CD4 counts
Severely immunocompromised individuals, particularly those with HIV/AIDS and low CD4 counts, are at risk for systemic Bartonella infections including bacillary angiomatosis.
What is the recommended minimum interval between a therapy animal receiving a bath and participating in a facility visit?
Answer: 24 hours
Most AAT guidelines recommend bathing therapy animals within 24 hours before a visit to minimize dander, loose hair, and potential pathogen load.
During an AAT session in a long-term care facility, a resident sustains a superficial scratch from the therapy cat. What is the FIRST action the handler should take?
Answer: Notify the facility nurse and follow the facility's incident protocol
The immediate priority is notifying facility staff so the wound can be properly cleaned and assessed according to the facility's infection control protocol.
Which of the following is a correct statement about Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and therapy animals?
Answer: Therapy animals can acquire and transmit MRSA between human patients and facilities
Therapy animals can become transiently colonized with MRSA from human contact and potentially transmit it to other patients or facilities.