Basic biosafety In A Mycology Laboratory Flashcards
is the application of combinations of laboratory practices and procedures, laboratory facilities, and safety equipment to prevent the accidental release of potentially infectious “hazardous” microorganism within the laboratory or the community.
Biosafety
Measures and technologies employed to protect biohazardous materials or critical relevant information.
Biosecurity
Aims to prevent unauthorized access, loss, theft, misuse, diversion or release.
Biosecurity
Anything that can cause harm
Hazard
The chance that a person/animal/environment will be HARMED if exposed to a HAZARD
Risk
-Containment of potentially harmful biological agents
-Recognize and assess Biological hazards and -Laboratory- Associated Infections
Use of safe microbiological practices
PRINCIPLES OF BIOSAFETY
A systematic process of gathering information and evaluating the likelihood and consequences of exposure to or release of workplace hazard(s) and determining the appropriate risk control measures to reduce the risk to an acceptable risk.
(WHO Biosafety Manual, 4th ed.)
Biological Risk Assessment
A process to:
•Identify hazards and risk factors that have the potential to cause harm
•Analyze and evaluate the risk associated with the hazard (risk analysis, risk evaluation)
•Determine appropriate ways to
eliminate the hazard, or control the risk
when the hazard cannot be eliminated
Risk assessment
Risk group classification #1
-Description and example
Organisms do not/unlikely cause disease in healthy adult humans
E.g. Escherichia coli(K12)
Risk group classification #2
-Description and example
Organisms can cause disease in humans Disease is treatable and preventable
E.g. Streptococcus pneumoniae, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, virus, Hepatitis B
Risk group classification #3
-Description and example
Organisms can cause serious disease in
humans
Does not ordinarily spread from one infected individual to another
Treatment and vaccines for the disease may exist
E.g. Brucella spp., Yersinia pestis, Human immunodeficiency viruses, Rhabdoviridae (Rabies), SARS-Cov-2, Dimorphic fungi
Risk group classification #4
-Description and example
Organisms can cause deadly disease in humans
Can easily transfer from one person to another Treatment or vaccine is not available
E.g. Lassa, Ebola virus, Marburg, Poxviridae
Risk group classification -Fungi #1
-Description and Example
Low individual risk
E.g. Saccharomyces (bread yeast)
Risk group classification- Fungi #2
-Description and example
Moderate individual risk, limited community risk
E.g. Cryptococcus neoformans, Candida albicans, Aspergillus, Epidermophyton, Microsporum, Sporothrix schenckii, Trichophyton spp.
Risk group classification- Fungi #3
High individual risk, low community risk
E.g. Blastomyces dermatitidis, Coccidioides immitis,
Histoplasma capsulatum, Paracoccidioides brasiliensis
Risk group classification- Fungi #4
-Description and example
High individual risk, high community risk
E.g. none
•Combinations of lab practices and techniques, safety equipment, and laboratory facilities
•Somewhat related to Risk Groups
•Main focus is on laboratory manipulation of agent
Biosafety Levels (BSLs)
Role of biological safety cabinet (BSCs)
•To protect the user from the samples
•To protect the environment from the samples
•To protect the samples from
external elements
Efficacy of Biological Safety Cabinets (BSCs)
•Dependent on work practices
•Read BSC instructions in Biosafety Manual
How to use a BSC
Before Using
•Clean interior panels + items placed inside
•Purge air 3+ min
•Sash to working height
During
•Designate clean, working, and
‘dirty’ work areas •Clean as you go •Protect the air curtain
After Using
•Clean interior panels + items
Clean
Working
Dirty
stored outside
•Purge air 3+ min •Turn on UV if safe •Accomplish usage log
•A process of rendering an area, equipment, item or material safe to handle by reducing the level of
microbial contamination so that infection transmission is eliminated
DECONTAMINATION
Decontamination may require:
-Sterilization
-Disinfection
A process that completely eliminate all living microorganisms including bacterial spores
Sterilization
A less lethal process than sterilization that eliminates most forms of living
Disinfection
