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.
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