Other than a sink for handwashing and doors to separate the laboratory from the rest of the building, no additional modifications are needed. Laboratory workers use standard aseptic technique and may work with these agents at an open laboratory bench or table, wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) such as a laboratory coat, goggles, and gloves, as needed. Because working with BSL-1 agents poses very little risk, few precautions are necessary. These include noninfectious bacteria, such as nonpathogenic strains of Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis, and viruses known to infect animals other than humans, such as baculoviruses (insect viruses). For example, the lowest BSL, BSL-1, requires the fewest precautions because it applies to situations with the lowest risk for microbial infection.īSL-1 agents are those that generally do not cause infection in healthy human adults. 1 Each BSL requires a different level of biocontainment to prevent contamination and spread of infectious agents to laboratory personnel and, ultimately, the community. According to the CDC, the BSL is determined by the agent’s infectivity, ease of transmission, and potential disease severity, as well as the type of work being done with the agent. Various organizations around the world, including the World Health Organization (WHO) and the European Union (EU), use a similar classification scheme. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) have established four classification levels, called “biological safety levels” (BSLs). Other organisms may not require such extreme measures and can be controlled by a procedure such as washing clothes in a laundry machine.įor researchers or laboratory personnel working with pathogens, the risks associated with specific pathogens determine the levels of cleanliness and control required. botulinum can produce endospores that can survive harsh conditions, extreme temperatures and pressures must be used to eliminate the endospores. For example, foods preserved by canning often become contaminated with the bacterium Clostridium botulinum, which produces the neurotoxin that causes botulism. The second factor is the level of resistance to antimicrobial treatment by potential pathogens. For example, invasive applications that require insertion into the human body require a much higher level of cleanliness than applications that do not. The first factor is the application for which the item will be used. Two factors heavily influence the level of cleanliness required for a particular fomite and, hence, the protocol chosen to achieve this level. Inanimate items, such as doorknobs, toys, or towels, which may harbor microbes and aid in disease transmission, are called fomites. To prevent the spread of human disease, it is necessary to control the growth and abundance of microbes in or on various items frequently used by humans. What are some possible causes of Roberta’s symptoms?
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