VIPVis: Veterinary Infection Prevention through Visualisation

Antimicrobial-resistance (AMR) is a major threat to human health. Increasing numbers of resistant infections are leading to many existing antibiotics becoming ineffective.

AMR is a challenge in veterinary medicine and AMR bacteria are more likely to emerge and transmit AMR genes where there are higher microbial densities.

In previous work, we developed and evaluated an innovative training intervention, supported by a new type of digital tool, for training veterinary practice staff in infection prevention and control (IPC).

This comprised an interactive mode of presentation and delivery supported by a 3D graphical simulation tool recreating the interior of a vet practice and the interactions of humans, animals, and microbes, according to rules observed from real-life.

Additional visual layers, able to be toggled on/off, enabled normally invisible bacteria to be 'seen' as they spread via contacts within the indoor environment, and allowed the effect of various IPC measures to be seen easily.

By 'making visible the invisible' our intention is to reduce microbial contamination in small animal vet practices, hence reduce reliance on antibiotics, and contribute to decreasing the risk of AMR developing.

Our aim is to now maximise the impact of this work by migrating our innovative software tool to platforms where it is fit for deployment into a variety of self-paced learning environments to support the on-going training of veterinary practitioners in IPC and extend this further to students undertaking their veterinary studies.

The use of the tools we are developing could change the perception of risk of infection to positively influence behaviours to minimise the risk of infection and ultimately the reliance on antimicrobials.

By engaging with students at the beginning of their training, and by revisiting the themes throughout their curriculum, we intend to embed best practice as a matter of habit in the next generation of veterinary practitioners.

The current tool is a laptop-hosted digital animation designed to support a trainer delivering a short in-house workshop session. In 2019, our intervention was delivered to 51 vet staff during a trial within a large referral vet practice.

Participants found the novel approach taken to discussing IPC increased their awareness and appreciation of the issues: comments such as 'very clear', 'informative' and 'showed easy steps on how to prevent infection' were typical of the feedback received.

Our trial demonstrated that our prototype intervention was able to meet its training objectives within a 30-minute trainer-led session. However, we found potential barriers to its adoption, but also suggestions for improved flexibility of delivery.

Consequently, the objective of this follow-on project is to translate our trainer-led, single device-based activity onto alternative platforms for more flexible, scalable and cost-efficient modes of delivery, specifically mobile-, tablet-, and web-based use.

These would facilitate stand-alone, self-paced learning to be used for professional training and for use in educational settings, e.g. for vet students and nurses at different stages of their education.

Common to all platforms will be the promotion of reflective practice, e.g. what is perceived as risky practice or behaviour and how to improve this?

During its use, data on users' perception of risk and self-reporting of behaviour before and after receiving training would be captured.

The ambition is that these stand-alone platforms would achieve the same objective within the 30-minute time-frame but it would also be designed to be flexible enough for more individual self-paced and refresher sessions and as the basis for expanded group teaching and training sessions and seminars.

We envisage the tool being available to professional practitioners and veterinary students in mobile or tablet form, and as an online resource forming an innovative element of more extensive and comprehensive training packages.