Environmental bacterial load during surgical and ultrasound procedures in a Swedish small animal hospital.

This study presents a generally low bacterial load in the studied OR and UR, indicating a low risk of transmission of infectious agents from the clinical environment. The results show that it is possible to achieve bacterial loads below threshold values suggested for use in human healthcare facilities in ORs in small animal hospitals and thus posing a reduced risk of HAI. Bacteria carrying genes conveying resistance to disinfectants indicates that resistant bacteria can persist in the clinical environment, with increased risk for HAI.