VANCOUVER — Arti and Anton are the newest floppy-eared members of a team of dog detectives trained to sniff out adangerous bacterium in British Columbia hospitals, where it can easily spread among vulnerable patients.
The two-year-old springer spaniels recently graduated from training and have joined Fancy, Traveller and Angus at the Canines for Care scent detection program aimed at reducing the rates of C. difficile in Vancouver and beyond.
Those at highest risk include the elderly and people with severe underlying conditions who aretaking certain antibiotics, which over a long period can destroy the gut's normal bacteria and cause C. difficile to take over and produce toxins. That damages the bowel and leads to diarrhea. In some cases, C. difficile can cause life-threatening bowel perforation or sepsis.
Their goal, if they graduate from the program, will be to hunt for the C. difficile odour by sweeping a unit in about 15 minutes, Zurberg said. A reward — either a toy or a treat such as a cookie or dehydratedmeat -- is the big motivator. Their findings showed 56 per cent of C. difficile cases were detected in the hospital's hallways, suggesting such areas should be decluttered so they can be better cleaned.
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Vancouver Weather: Mix of sun and cloudIt\u0027s going to be a toasty afternoon in Metro Vancouver, with highs of 26 C and 31 C inland expected.
Read more »
New passenger catamaran ferries arrive in NanaimoVessels are to begin service in August between downtown Nanaimo and downtown Vancouver.
Read more »
LILLEY: Trudeau government snubs global LNG conference in VancouverMinister in charge of energy couldn\u0027t be bothered to drive across town to attend major international meeting on a file he\u0027s in charge of.
Read more »
Vancouver hands out more than $71,000 in water restriction fines as drought intensifiesThe city has also issued 395 warnings or letters to residents to advise them of unnecessary water usage.
Read more »
Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League applying to go Junior AOther two Junior B leagues in B.C. hope to follow
Read more »
Vancouver's Chinese culture takes centre stage at colourful 21st annual festivalTens of thousands of attendees filled the streets for the annual festival, which was organized by Chinatown business professionals in an effort to drum up visitors to the historical neighbourhood.
Read more »