BMBL Flashcards
What are the fundamentals of containment?
microbiological practices, safety equipment, and facility safeguards that protect laboratory workers, environment, and public
–BMBL Section I
what are the two principles of biosafety first introduced in the BMBL
containment
risk assessment
–BMBL Section I
what is risk assessment
process that enables appropriate selection of microbiological practices, safety equipment, facility safeguards that prevent lab-associated infections
–BMBL Section I
process that identifies hazardous characteristics of a known infectious/potentially infectious material, activities that can result in exposure to the agent, likelihood that the exposure will cause lab-acquired infection, probable consequences of the infection–BMBL Section II
what are the 10 most common lab associated infections first identified in a 1978 survey?
Brucella Coxiella burnettii (Q fever) hepatitis B virus (HBV) salmonella typhi Franciscella tularensis Mycobacterium tuberculosis Blastomyces dermatiditis Venezuelan equine encephalitis viru Chlamydia psittaci Coccidioides immitis --BMBL Section I
What are the two most at-risk locations for Lab-acquired infections?
research laboratories
clinical diagnostic laboratories
–BMBL Section I
When was the Classification of Etiologic Agents on the Basis of Hazard published, and who published it?
1974
CDC
–BMBL Section I
When were the National Cancer Institute Safety Standards for Research Involving Oncogenic Viruses published, and who published it?
1976
NIH
–BMBL Section I
When were the NIH Guidelines for Research Involving Recombinant DNA Molecules published, and who published it?
1976
NIH
–BMBL Section I
What document initially set the foundation for developing a code of practice for biosafety in laboratories?
NIH Guidelines for Research Involving Recombinant DNA Molecules
–BMBL Section I
When was the BMBL first published, and who publishes it?
1984
US DHHS (primary), PHS, CDC, NIH
–BMBL Section I
What are the primary risk criteria used to define ascending levels of containment (BSL 1-4)?
infectivity severity of disease transmissibility nature of the work being conducted origin of the agent (indigenous or exotic) --BMBL Section I
What BSL level is basic and appropriate for agents that don’t cause disease in healthy, normal humans?
BSL1
–BMBL Section I
What BSL level is appropriate for moderate-risk agents that cause human disease of varying severity by ingestion or through percutaneous or mucous membrane exposure?
BSL2
–BMBL Section I
What BSL level is appropriate for agents with a known potential for aerosol transmission, may cause serious and potentially lethal infections, and that are indigenous or exotic in origin
BSL3
–BMBL Section I
What BSL level is appropriate for exotic agents that pose a high individual risk of life-threatening disease by infectious aerosol and for which no treatment is available?
BSL4
–BMBL Section I
What is the most important operational risk factor for procedures, which supports the need for containment equipment and facility safeguards?
potential to release microorganisms into the air as aerosols and droplets
–BMBL Section I
You are working with an agent without an agent summary statement in BMBL. Is it safe to use at BSL1?
NO.
Just because a summary statement is absent doesn’t mean that it is safe in BSL1 conditions or that a risk assessment isn’t necessary to determine appropriate BSL levels.
–BMBL Section I
What procedure should be done before beginning work with an agent or procedure new to the lab?
A risk assessment by the laboratory director
–BMBL Section I
Is following the BMBL voluntary or required by law?
It is a voluntary code of practice but should be followed as if it was law
–BMBL Section I
What is the most likely cause of many lab-acquired infections?
Accidental release of microbial aerosols
–BMBL Section I
Who is responsible for risk assessment in laboratories?
Ultimately, the director and principal investigator
IBC, ACUCs, biological safety professionals, lab animal vets share responsibility
–BMBL Section II
What are the primary factors to consider in risk assessment?
Agent hazards
Laboratory procedure hazards
(Also capability of lab staff to control hazards
–BMBL Section II
What are the principal hazardous characteristics of a given agent?
Capability to infect and cause disease in susceptible human or animal host
virulence as measured by severity of disease
availability of preventive measures and effective treatments for disease
(Others that aren’t primary: probable route of transmission/infection, infective dose, environmental stability, host range, endemic nature)
–BMBL Section II
What 2 organizations have risk group classifications for infectious agents?
WHO
NIH
Note: these systems correlate with but don’t equate to BSL levels
–BMBL Section II
What WHO and NIH risk group would an agent fall under with the following characteristics?
WHO- no/low individual and community risk
NIH- not associated with dz in healthy adult humans
Risk group 1
–BMBL Section II
What WHO and NIH risk group would an agent fall under with the following characteristics?
WHO- Moderate individual risk, low community risk
NIH- associated with human dz that is rarely serious and for which preventive or therapeutic interventions are often available
Risk group 2
–BMBL Section II
What WHO and NIH risk group would an agent fall under with the following characteristics?
WHO- High individual risk, low community risk
NIH- serious/lethal human dz for which therapeutic interventions may be available
Risk group 3
–BMBL Section II
What WHO and NIH risk group would an agent fall under with the following characteristics?
WHO-high individual, high community risk
NIH- likely to cause serious/lethal human disease for which preventative or therapeutic interventions are not usually available
Risk group 4
–BMBL Section II
You are working with an agent that may cause human/animal disease but is unlikely to be a serious hazard for lab workers, community, livestock or the environment. Effective treatments and preventive measures are avaialable and risk of infection spreading is limited. What WHO risk category would this agent fall under?
Risk group 2
–BMBL Section II
You are working with an agent that has a serious risk of disease for humans, but a preventive/therapeutic intervention may be available under the right circumstanes. What NIH risk category would this agent fall under?
Risk group 3
–BMBL Section II
What are the most likely routes of transmission for an infectious agent used in a laboratory?
(1) direct skin, eye, or mucosal membrane exposure
(2) parenteral inoculation by a contaminated sharp or bites from infected animals/vectors
(3) ingestion of liquid suspension or contaminated hand-mouth exposure
(4) inhalation of infectious aerosols
- -BMBL Section II
What agent characteristics are particularly important in establishing risk of airborne transmission of a disease?
infective dose
agent stability
–BMBL Section II
What situations indicate the potential for zoonotic hazard?
(1) evidence that experimental animals shed zoonotic agents in saliva, urine, or feces
(2) demonstrated transmission of disease between infected and uninfected cagemates
Note: lack of demonstrated transmission doesn’t rule out zoonotic hazard
–BMBL Section II
You are importing an agent that causes human disease What organization do you need a permit from?
CDC
–BMBL Section II
You are importing an agent that causes livestock, poultry, or other animal disease. What organization do you need a permit from?
USDA APHIS
–BMBL Section II
You are conducting a risk assessment involving recombinant DNA. What is the key reference you should use?
NIH Guidelines for Research Involving Recombinant DNA Molecules
–BMBL Section II