Antimicrobial-resistant (AMR) bacteria are an established and growing issue in companion animal veterinary practice in the developed and developing world. Effective infection prevention control measures (ICMs) are essential for tackling the AMR problem to reduce antibiotic use. The uptake of appropriate ICM is heavily influenced by human risk perception and consequent behaviour and the way humans and animals interact with the physical environment of the veterinary practice. Effective communication and teaching tools are therefore necessary to ensure the understanding and behaviours of the broad range of individuals (clinical and non-clinical) comprising the team are in line with scientific recommendations. Whilst data exist to inform best practise in ICM, they are normally published in academic journals, thus having limited impact on how practitioners understand and practise ICM in their working environment. Innovative ways of communicating risks to practitioners in this context are therefore required. The research team’s ambition is to change the perception – in veterinary staff - of the risk of infection, leading to a reduced risk of bacterial contamination and infection, and ultimately reduced reliance on antibiotics.
The researchers’ approach is to ‘make visible the invisible' through the building of a three-dimensional graphical simulation tool (AMRSim: A Microbial Reality Simulator) showing the interior of a veterinary practice in which humans, animals, and microorganisms (bacteria in this study) interact, according to rules observed from real-life. This will be used to support an intervention, a training session with veterinary practice staff to encourage effective reflective behavioural changes that positively impact on microbial contamination, thereby reducing the risk of the development, acquisition and transmission of harmful bacteria.