Healthcare associated infections in companion animals. The role of the microbiology lab in the surveillance system

Hospital-acquired injections (HAIs) are an emerging threat in both human and veterinary mediane. Considering the simultaneous involvement of environment, animals and humans, this problem has to be faced with a «One Health» approach. This review aims at raising the awareness about the use of surveillance systems in veterinary settings, which would allow to reduce HAIs rates in both animals and clinic personnel, decrease hospital-related economic losses and improve the reputation of the settings. The review focuses on basic keypoints needed for the implementation of these systems by highlighting microbiological aspects related with HAIs and some topics of bacteriological diagnostics applied for infection control policies and outbreaks management. Of particular importance is the communication between clinical and microbiological staff, underlining the significance of a multidisciplinary approach. Subsequently, the review describes the main typologies of surveillance that can be adopted by veterinary settings, and eventually it reports the most important bacterial agents associated with HAIs, with various examples from veterinary medicine literature.