Safety in Microbiology Flashcards
Why do we need safe working practices?
- To reduce contact with sources of infection
- Avoid transmission of infection
- reduce contact with sources of harmful chemical/radiation.
Working with micro-organism involves
- “Good microbiological practice”
- Containment
ROUTES OF MICROBE TRANSMISSON
- Ingestion:
Eating, drinking and smoking in the laboratory
Transfer of microorganisms to mouth by contaminated fingers or articles. - Skin (percutaneous)
Skin puncture by needle or other sharps objects
Bites and scratches by animals
Existing cuts or scratches - Conjunctiva
Splashes of infectious material into the eye
Transfer to eye by contaminated fingers or articles - Inhalation
Inhalation of airbourne hazards i.e.. aerosols
What do we class as micro-organisms
- Bacteria, Fungi, Protozoa, Viruses & Prions
When handling micro-organisms what technique should be used and why
When handling micro-organisms aseptic techniques should be used at all times.
- to prevent contamination of the lab/personnel by the organism being handled
- to prevent contamination of the organism from the environment/handler
CURRENT LEGISLATION
Strict legislation for control of the handling of micro-organismControl by a number of government bodies:
- Health and Safety Executive (HSE) (Act 1974)
- Advisory Committee on Dangerous Pathogens (ACDP)
- The National Counter Terrorism Security Office (NaCTSO)
- Control of Substance Hazardous to Health (COSHH)
These bodies produce reports:
- The Howie report – established code of practice for prevention of infection in clinical labs and post-mortem room.
- Categorise pathogens according to hazard and category of containment (ACDP)
- “the approved list of biological agents”
Safety in the laboratory: who’s job is it?
The employer:
- Must provide safety training and equipment fit for purpose.
- Biological Safety Office (BSO) who sits on the safety committee:
Hazard Advise on microbiological safety
Hazard groups that can be safety worked with
Containment
Disinfection
Safe disposal of waste material
The employee ‘YOU AS A WORKER’ - legal obligation
Assessment of Risk
- Microbial pathogens are categorised according to hazard and containment by the ACDP
- Micro-organisms are categorised in one of four group.
Hazard group 1 – contains microorganisms with the lowest level of risk
Hazard group 4 – contain microorganisms with the highest level of risk
Containment
[as you increase hazard group you increase containment]
- Hazards groups handled in same level containment (laboratory).
Can handle group 1 hazard in containment level 4 but not a hazard group 4 in level 1.
Group 4 microbes: Only consists of viruses e.g., Ebola fever: no way of fighting them / no treatment
Category 4 lab
Organisms held within a cabinet – locked in a secure room
– worker may wear biohazard suit – inflated so if there’s a cut – suit will start to deflate which tells you that barrier is compromised
Microbiological Safety Cabinets (MSC)
Required for work at containment level 2 + 3 if the work presents risk of aerosol exposure
Correctly selected, installed, used & maintained
MSC – class I
MSC - class II [can be used for microbes but predominantly used for cell culture]
MSC - class III
Class I – category 2 and 3 organisms Class I & III for category 4 depending on whether you are using a biohazard suit (are = class I, not using = III)
MSC – airflow sensitivity y
[extremely sensitive]
- Do not have another worker at an adjacent bench
- Allow adequate room for workers at nearby benches
Who is movement of microbes regulated b
Department of transport
- Transport of infectious substances (2006)
- ACDP, NaCTSO and HSE
Movement of microbes packaging
Specimen should be in:
- Double container
- Container should be metal/plastic with a screw top (wrapped in cotton wool & then put into a secondary container with packaging – put in to box 3x bigger – covered in bubble wrap)
- Labelled clearly with biohazard warning
GENETIC MANIPULATION/MODIFICATION ORGANISM (GMO)
Genetic make-up of microbes may change naturally (antibiotic resistance) or intentionally in the laboratory.
Highly regulated by: Guidance from the Scientific advisory committee on Genetic Modification (SACGM) - HSE - ADCP - DEFRA - SSREAD
Within laboratory GMO is regulated by – GM committee and the BSO.
Subject to all regulations that affect non-GMO microbiology laboratories.
Health surveillance of employees to detect adverse reaction/ill health to prevent further exposure.
Movement of group 3 and 4 hazards
Hazard group 3 and 4 microbes must not be sent through the post.
- Group 4 microbes usually have a police escort and expert used to handling pathogens + require government approval before movement
