AAT Zoonotic Disease Prevention 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: 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?
- Proceed with the visit but avoid contact with the most immunocompromised patients
- Cancel the visit and consult a veterinarian before rescheduling (Correct answer)
- Complete a shorter visit and wash hands more frequently
- Inform the facility coordinator and let them decide
Correct 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.
Question 2: Which zoonotic pathogen is most commonly transmitted via contact with reptiles and is a key reason reptiles are generally excluded from AAT programs?
- Toxoplasma gondii
- Salmonella spp. (Correct answer)
- Bartonella henselae
- Ringworm (Microsporum canis)
Correct answer: Salmonella spp.
Salmonella is carried asymptomatically by most reptiles and shed in feces, making reptiles unsuitable for AAT in healthcare settings.
Question 3: An AAT program coordinator is reviewing hand hygiene protocols. Which hand hygiene method is LEAST effective at removing Cryptosporidium oocysts?
- Soap and water for at least 20 seconds
- Alcohol-based hand sanitizer (60%+ ethanol) (Correct answer)
- Glove use followed by soap and water
- Paper towel friction drying after washing
Correct answer: Alcohol-based hand sanitizer (60%+ ethanol)
Alcohol-based sanitizers do not reliably inactivate Cryptosporidium oocysts; soap and water with mechanical friction is required.
Question 4: Cat scratch disease is caused by Bartonella henselae. Which AAT client population faces the highest risk of serious complications from this infection?
- Elderly adults over age 75
- Children under age 12
- HIV-positive individuals with low CD4 counts (Correct answer)
- Pregnant women in the third trimester
Correct 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.
Question 5: What is the recommended minimum interval between a therapy animal receiving a bath and participating in a facility visit?
- 6 hours
- 12 hours
- 24 hours (Correct answer)
- 48 hours
Correct 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.
Question 6: 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?
- Document the incident in the AAT program log
- Apply an antiseptic wipe to the scratch immediately
- Notify the facility nurse and follow the facility's incident protocol (Correct answer)
- Assess whether the cat's vaccinations are current
Correct 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.
Question 7: Which of the following is a correct statement about Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and therapy animals?
- Animals cannot carry MRSA because they lack the appropriate skin receptors
- Therapy animals can acquire and transmit MRSA between human patients and facilities (Correct answer)
- MRSA colonization in animals always produces visible skin lesions
- Standard pet shampoos reliably decolonize MRSA from therapy animals
Correct 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.
AAT Zoonotic Disease Prevention 2
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?