Technologies monitoring and improving biosecurity compliance in barn anterooms

Abstract

People can act as mechanical vectors, and introduce and spread infectious diseases on farms. Preventive measures, such as changing boots and washing hands, need systematic implementation to manage this risk. Unfortunately, biosecurity compliance regarding biosecurity measures in barn anterooms has been shown to be generally low in all animal production systems. Indeed, the main challenge with biosecurity is maintaining compliance. The development of an effective on-farm biosecurity program requires several elements. These include farm and barn designs facilitating implementation of biosecurity measures; consistently communicating with all personnel and visitors informing them about threats and biosecurity; training programs for all farm personnel, explaining why biosecurity is effective in preventing infectious disease transmission, which measures are needed, and how to best implement them. All these components would be further optimized if automated monitoring systems were implemented with feedback mechanisms. Technologies are now available and are being adapted to the farm context to monitor biosecurity compliance. Two pilot projects using radio-frequency-identification-based (RFID) real-time continuous automated monitoring system quantifying hand sanitizing and boot compliance were conducted. The first one (MediHand Trace system) was a system designed to monitor and provide real-time feedback for handwashing in a hospital environment. It was functional for this task, although not sturdy enough for long-term use in a farm environment. The second system was a prototype designed for barns and with foot mats allowing the monitoring of footwear management as well as handwashing. These pilot studies have shown that real-time feedback helps improve compliance. However, the efficacy of the systems was very dependent on the physical set-up of the anteroom.

Keywords: RFID; anteroom; biosecurity; compliance; monitoring; technology; traffic.

Figure 1

MediHandTrace adapted Radio-frequency-identification-based (RFID) real-time continuous automated monitoring system. (a) Soft chips inserted in work shoes used by personnel getting to the farm; (b) rigid chips inserted in the soles of farm boots; (c) RFID antenna; (d) MediHandTrace device (e-box) with data management program; (e) hand sanitizer device.

Figure 2

Boot and hand sanitizing compliance at the farm level using the MediHandTrace system: comparison between Racicot et al. (21) study (performed between 2007 and 2011), egg layer farm (Farm 1) and broiler farm (Farm 2).

Figure 3

Hand sanitizing compliance rate at the individual level using the MediHandTrace system; before and after hearing the alarm.

Figure 4

Maximus barn-adapted Radio-frequency-identification-based (RFID) real-time continuous automated monitoring system. (a) personnel work shoes without microchips; (b) RFID chips placed under the soles of farm boots; (c) Maximus control device; (d) hand sanitizer device.

Figure 5

First antenna in the frame of the exterior door identifying the person entering the barn using the Maximus prototype.

Figure 6

Dirty area of the turkey barn (pressure mat and antenna located on the floor)—Maximus prototype.

Figure 7

Clean area of the turkey barn (pressure mat and antenna located on the floor connected to the hand sanitizer device)—Maximus prototype.

Figure 8

Number of biosecurity breaches related to changing boots recorded by the camera vs. the Maximus system (with and without the alarms).