Guidance for Animal Research

Updated: June 5, 2020

Guidance from Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) — Updated June 5, 2020

• Essential Personnel. The personnel that care for the animals at Purdue are classified as essential personnel and will be here even if other segments of the University are closed. CMAF will provide continued daily care of all animals. This includes continued veterinary medical care, assessment of animal health and wellbeing, provision of food, water and clean cages, and maintenance of appropriate environmental conditions. As we may be working with a decreased work force, the LAP may not be able to provide other services. Contact Assistant Director, Sylvia Schlegel (sschlege@purdue.edu), with any questions.
• Social distancing should be observed in the animal facility and/or laboratory setting. Large complex procedures that require multiple people to conduct should be postponed if possible.
• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) use was addressed in a past memo to animal researchers. We will try to reuse and otherwise minimize the use of PPE materials when possible so that we don’t run out. DO NOT remove PPE from animal areas. This has a negative impact on everyone and the animals under our care.
• Contact LAP veterinarians. You can contact LAP personnel including the veterinary team the same way you always have. Non-emergency questions can be directed to LAPVET@groups.purdue.edu. The veterinarian on call can be contacted directly for emergencies. A contact list of the veterinarian on call is available at all animal facilities, contact your facility manager with any questions.
• Purdue Animal Care and Use Committee business will be conducted electronically. We will continue to review submissions, new protocols, amendments, annual, and triennial reviews. Please contact the IACUC Administrator, Lisa Snider (ldsnider@purdue.edu), or Dr. Kritchevsky, IACUC chair (sojkaje@purdue.edu), if you have any questions.
• Animals as vectors. There is no evidence that the animals used for research on Purdue’s campus can transmit the virus or are susceptible to the virus. Pets and other domestic animals are not considered at risk for contracting or spreading COVID-19.
• Animals at ASREC and other remote sites. Currently the farms are operating as usual. Plans are being put in place to ensure the highest level of animal care in the event of a reduced workforce.

More information about COVID-19 and animals can be found on the AVMA website: https://www.avma.org/resources-tools/animal-health-and-welfare/covid-19

Guidance from Centrally Managed Animal Facilities (CMAF)

The following information is provided by Purdue University Centrally Managed Animal Facilities (CMAF) staff to assist Purdue animal researchers:

• The CMAF staff have been stocking up on essential supplies in order to make certain that supply line disruptions do not impact our ability to care for animals in the facilities. Some supplies – such as surgical masks (used for immune deficient animals) and N95 respirators (for allergen control in open top rooms and for use with different hazards) – are in short supply. We have requested that all staff re-use their respirators for 7 days and may extend this if supplies drop low. We will continue to assess the situation and make modifications as needed. Guidance on respirator reuse will be available from CMAF or Radiological and Environmental Management staff. (Contact Eric Butt embutt@purdue.edu)
• We ask that you assess your colonies and confirm all animals are necessary for your research.
• We are requesting some procedural exemptions from the IACUC to shift some cleaning processes to give us more time to do essential cleaning (e.g., daily pen cleaning) and delay less essential cleaning (e.g., wire bar lid cleaning).
• We will monitor staffing impacts and make adjustments as needed to ensure essential care. We may work longer days so you may receive calls about your animals later in the day than normal.
• Depending on impact, we may suspend incoming animal orders and request that no new studies be started for a period of time.
• Depending on impact, we may suspend animal movements and investigative staff may need to move their own animals. Please make certain you understand movement requirements, such as securing cages, and speak to the Facility Manager before moving anything. Forms will still need to be submitted for space approval and tracking of cages.
• Please put a plan in place for maintaining your breeding colonies. Please DO NOT assume you can rely on the animal care staff. If we are staffed where we can help, we will but if we are impacted significantly, we will need to focus on direct animal care.
• If your animals have special diets, please verify you have stocked up on needed foods.
• Please verify your phone lists are up to date with the managers for the facilities. Please also confirm your people have the cell numbers for our staff. Also, please confirm you are using the NEW EMAIL ADDRESSES for the facilities so we can respond to all your questions or concerns:

LAP Veterinary Staff: LAPVET@groups.purdue.edu
CMAF Management: cmafmanagement@groups.purdue.edu
Bindley Animal Care Staff: bindleyanimalreceiving@groups.purdue.edu
MJIS Animal Care Staff: mjisanimalreceiving@groups.purdue.edu
LSA Animal Care Staff: lsaanimalreceiving@groups.purdue.edu
Hansen Animal Care Staff: hansenanimalreceiving@groups.purdue.edu
Vet Med Animal Care Staff: vetmedanimalreceiving@groups.purdue.edu

Guidance for extended use and limited reuse of N95 respirators

Occasionally supplies of N95 respirators will become limited. This guidance is intended to help users if there is a need to conserve respirators.

Extended use refers to the practice of extending the time a user would keep a respirator on during a task or shift. Extending the time a respirator is worn will reduce the number of respirators used because one respirator will cover multiple hours or tasks, whereas several respirators may have been used in the past. For example, using a respirator for the entire shift is acceptable. Dispose of any respirator used for 6 hours or more.

Limited reuse refers to the practice of reusing an N95 respirator during a work shift or task. By reusing the respirator several times, the number respirators used is reduced.

Never share a respirator. Label your respirator on the strap or paper storage bag to avoid confusion.

Below are some examples of when extended use or limited reuse of N95 respirators would be appropriate…

Using low hazard particulates (dust) are good candidates to follow these practices. Respirators may be used until there is visible contamination.

For known, low hazard biological agents/allergens you may follow extended/limited reuse practices provided you adhere to the following guidelines.

• Discard N95 respirators if exposed to airborne biological hazards of greater concern.
• Discard N95 respirators contaminated with blood, respiratory or nasal secretions, or other bodily fluids from patients, including research animals.
• Discard N95 respirators following close contact with any infectious disease requiring contact precautions.
• Follow manufacture’s recommendations for reuse. In the absence of recommendations, use no more than five times.
• Use a cleanable face shield (preferred) or a surgical mask over an N95 respirator and/or other steps (e.g., masking patients, use of engineering controls), when feasible to reduce surface contamination of the respirator.
• To minimize potential cross-contamination, store respirators so that they do not touch each other and the person using the respirator is clearly identified.
• After use, store your respirator in a labeled paper bag to allow the respirator to dry and avoid contamination between uses. Utilize paper bags folded over and sealed with tape, dispose of bags after one use.
• Clean hands with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer before and after touching or adjusting the respirator as necessary for comfort or to maintain fit.
• Avoid touching the inside of the respirator. If inadvertent contact is made with the inside of the respirator, dispose of the respirator, perform hand hygiene as described above.

High hazard particulates, biological agents and unknowns should not follow extended/limited reuse practices of N95 respirators.

References

1. Beckman, S., B. Materna, S. Goldmacher, J. Zipprich, M. D’Alessandro, D. Novak et al.: Evaluation of respiratory protection programs and practices in California hospitals during the 2009-2010 H1N1 influenza pandemic. American Journal of Infection Control 41(11): 1024-1031 (2013).
2. Hines, L., E. Rees, and N. Pavelchak: Respiratory protection policies and practices among the health care workforce exposed to influenza in New York State: Evaluating emergency preparedness for the next pandemic. American Journal of Infection Control (2014).
3. CDC: “Questions and Answers Regarding Respiratory Protection For Preventing 2009 H1N1 Influenza Among Healthcare Personnel” [Online] Available at https://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/guidelines_infection_control_qa.htm, 2010).
4. Rebmann, T., S. Alexander, T. Cain, B. Citarella, M. Cloughessy, and B. Coll “APIC position paper: extending the use and/or reusing respiratory protection in healthcare settings during disasters.” [Online]
5. IOM: Reusability of facemasks during an influenza pandemic: facing the flu. Washington, D.C.: National Academies Press, 2006.
6. CDC: “Sequence for donning personal protective equipment PPE/Sequence for removing personal protective equipment.” [Online] Available at https://www.cdc.gov/HAI/pdfs/ppe/ppeposter148.pdfpdf icon

Please visit the CDC website for more information. https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/hcwcontrols/recommendedguidanceextuse.html