Introduction
The potential sources of
laboratory-acquired infections due to the use and/or manipulation of
hazardous biological agents are easily identified and controlled. In
many cases, the infectious agent with which one is working is known, or
there is awareness that the materials being manipulated (e.g. human
blood and blood products, or tissue, etc) could contain harmful
pathogens.
Potential human pathogens that are
at the origin of most laboratory-
acquired illnesses include: viruses, bacteria, rickettsiae and fungi.
The acquisition of infections in the laboratory depends on,
- the health and immune status
or susceptibility of the worker,
- concentrations and characteristics of the
agent,
- methods and operating procedures used to
manipulate the agent and,
- the appropriateness of the laboratory setting
in which work with highly pathogenic agents is conducted.
Most laboratory-acquired infections
are due to accidents involving cuts, bites, scratches, spills, sprays,
and exposure to aerosols or needle-sticks.
Routes of infections include
ingestion, inhalation and inoculation.
Purpose
The University
of Minnesota
Duluth (UMD) Biological Safety Program consists of guidelines on the
procurement, handling, storage, containment of hazardous biological
microorganisms, and laboratory security. Specifically, for research
involving the use of Biologically Derived Toxins, Artificial Gene
Transfer, Recombinant DNA and Human Blood, Blood Products or Human
Tissue and Organs. The Purpose of this Program is to:
- Assure employee understanding of
the factors involved in disease transmission in the laboratory.
- Insure that appropriate
protocols, proper laboratory facilities, equipment and containment
levels are used when handling infectious organisms.
- Reduce the risk of occupational
infections to employees.
- Insure that CDC/NIH (centers for
Disease Control / National Institutes of Health) and University
Guidelines for Handling Pathogenic Microorganisms are being followed.
- Insure compliance with the
Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA) Bloodborne
Pathogens Standard (29CFR 1910.1030).
- Prevent the spread of disease
and contamination of the environment.
- Insure the proper management,
storage, disposition of all infectious agents and resulting wastes, in
compliance with pertinent state and federal regulations, governing the
management of infectious and pathological wastes, and the development
of generator management plan.
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