Journal article
Risks associated with animal-assisted intervention programs: A literature review
Complementary therapies in clinical practice, Vol.39, pp.101145-101145
05/01/2020
DOI: 10.1016/j.ctcp.2020.101145
PMCID: PMC7673300
PMID: 32379677
Abstract
The benefits of animal-assisted interventions (AAI), to utilize companion animals as an adjunctive treatment modality, is well-established and a burgeoning research field. However, few studies have evaluated the potential hazards of these programs, such as the potential for therapy animals to transfer hospital-associated pathogens between individuals and the hospital environment. Here we review the current literature on the possible risks of hospital-based AAI programs, including zoonotic pathogen transmission. We identified twenty-nine articles encompassing reviews of infection control guidelines and epidemiological studies on zoonotic pathogen prevalence in AAI. We observed substantial heterogeneity in infection control practices among hospital AAI programs. Few data confirmed pathogen transmission between therapy animals and patients. Given AAI's known benefits, we recommend that future research utilize a One Health framework to evaluate microbial dynamics among therapy animals, patients, and hospital environments. This framework may best promote safe practices to ensure the sustainability of these valuable AAI programs.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Risks associated with animal-assisted intervention programs: A literature review
- Creators
- Kathryn R. Dalton - Johns Hopkins UniversityKaitlin B. Waite - Johns Hopkins UniversityKathy Ruble - Johns Hopkins MedicineKaren C. Carroll - Johns Hopkins MedicineAlexandra DeLone - Johns Hopkins MedicinePam Frankenfield - Johns Hopkins MedicineJames A. Serpell - University of PennsylvaniaRoland J. Thorpe - Johns Hopkins UniversityDaniel O. Morris - University of PennsylvaniaJacqueline Agnew - Johns Hopkins UniversityRonald C. Rubenstein - University of PennsylvaniaMeghan F. Davis - Johns Hopkins University
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Complementary therapies in clinical practice, Vol.39, pp.101145-101145
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.ctcp.2020.101145
- PMID
- 32379677
- PMCID
- PMC7673300
- NLM abbreviation
- Complement Ther Clin Pract
- ISSN
- 1744-3881
- eISSN
- 1873-6947
- Publisher
- Elsevier
- Number of pages
- 9
- Grant note
- 5R01HD097692-02 / National Institutes of Health, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development; United States Department of Health & Human Services; National Institutes of Health (NIH) - USA; NIH Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development (NICHD) T42 OH0008428 / U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 05/01/2020
- Academic Unit
- Occupational and Environmental Health
- Record Identifier
- 9984701722202771
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