B5-BIOLOGICAL AGENTS Flashcards
How does COSHH define a biological agent?
COSHH defines a biological agent as “A micro organism, cell culture, or human endoparasite, whether or not genetically modified, which may cause infection, allergy, toxicity or otherwise create a hazard to human health”.
What are the four main categories of micro-organisms?
Fungi, bacteria, viruses and protozoa
Explain the term ‘zoonoses’ and describe an occupational example.
Zoonoses are animal infections that may be transmitted to people in the course of their work. For example, anthrax is an acute, infectious disease of farm animals caused by a bacterium.
Identify two occupational groups at risk from exposure to biological hazards and, for one of these groups, summarise the ill health conditions that could arise.
Agricultural workers, and sewage and construction workers; who are exposed to sewage and polluted water (pollio, leptospirosis, hepatitis, etc).
List the four key factors that are used to assess the hazard when carrying out a biological risk assessment.
- Ability to cause human disease
- Possible hazard to workers.
- Likelihood of spread of disease in the community.
- Availability of prophylaxis and treatment
Which type of microbiological safety cabinet would be appropriate for work with Hazard Group 3 and Hazard Group 4 organism?
Class III- totally enclosed, leak-proof cabinets where the operator with through glove ports. Air is drawn in and extracted through HEPA filters and discharged to atmosphere.
What are the symptoms of Weil’s disease (leptospirosis)?
- Stage I- Fever with flu-like symptoms lasting for about a week.
- Stage II- By the start of the second week, the fever has abated and jaundice becomes more obvious.
Stage III- In severe cases, jaundice may be present for three or four weeks, followed by a second fever lasting for up to two weeks. Recovery/convalesence can take many weeks or months.
