Articles - BioSecurity Measures

Recommended Disinfection Prevention Recommendations:

• Wash all feed buckets, water buckets, brushes, bits, tack, lead ropes, etc. with detergent soap.  Rinse with flowing stream rather than spray or pressure washer to minimize aerosolization of infections agents.
• Stall walls, trailers, plastic or rubber items and even brushes in dilute bleach (1 part bleach with 9 parts water).  This mixture is inactivated by organic debris (direct, manure, bedding) so frequent replacement of rinse solution is necessary.  Soaking in dilute bleach for 5 minutes followed by water rinse is an effective disinfectant but leaving it in contact with metal without rinsing may lead to corrosion of metal surfaces and hinges.  Wear gloves when applying.
• Techtrol®, a phenol disinfectant, can be applied to walls, trailers, floors, etc. and left in contact for 5-10 minutes followed by slow flow rinse with water and wipe down.  Wear gloves and avoid unnecessary skin contact.
• Opticide® (a benzyl ammonium chloride liquid) is less irritating to skin than Techtrol® and can be sprayed via hand sprayer or garden pump sprayer on walls, trailers, etc.  It does not need to be rinsed in these applications and needs a 10-20 minute contact time so it may be useful for trailer disinfection between loads.  It is also not caustic to metals as is bleach or Techtrol®.  If used on bits or other objects which contact skin or mucus membranes, Opticide® should be rinsed off with water following a 10-20 minute contact soak. 
• Among other agents used is Nolvasan (chlorhexadine) solution 2% which is safe for skin contact.  Quaternary ammonium products such as Rocal® are also used in hospitals but have more extensive safety precautions associated with their use, and therefore are not routinely recommended for routine prevention.

Peninsula Equine Medical Center
(650) 854-3162 | peneq@yahoo.com
100 Ansel Lane, Menlo Park, CA 94028

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