Biosafety practical

Question 1

biosafety definition

Answer 1

measures aimed at preventing the introduction and/or spread of harmful microorganisms to living organisms in order to minimise the risk of transmission of infectious disease

Question 2

non specific prophylaxis based on

Answer 2

biosafety measures

Question 3

routine practices

Answer 3

1. hand hygiene
2. PPE
3. cleaning and disinfection
4. waste management

Question 4

hand hygiene

Answer 4

hand washing for minimum 15secs
alcohol based hand sanitisers - more effective than hand washing? 70-90% alcohol. decreased efficacy on spores, Cryptosporidium and enveloped viruses eg parvo

Question 5

PPE

Answer 5

gloves?
gowns
shoe covers
masks
hair?
type and degree of protection depends on patients and pathogens involved

Question 6

cleaning

Answer 6

mechanical cleaning of visible debris with soap and water

Question 7

disinfection

Answer 7

treatment of surfaces/equipment using physical or chemical means such that amount of microorganisms present is reduced to an acceptable level (theory = below infectious dose)

Question 8

antisepsis

Answer 8

process go using chemical means to reduce the number of microorganisms on skin and living tissue

Question 9

sterilisation

Answer 9

process that eliminates or kills all forms of microbial life (including spores)

Question 10

3 categories of disinfectants

Answer 10

high level
intermediate
low level

Question 11

high level disinfectants

Answer 11

kill all pathogens except small number of spores
eg glutaraldehyde based formulas, formaldehyde

Question 12

intermediate disinfectants

Answer 12

kill all bacteria, including mycobacterium sp, non enveloped viruses but NOT SPORES
eg phenols, iodophors, sodium hypochlorite
activity of some compounds depend on formulation and concentration

Question 13

low level disinfectants

Answer 13

kill only vegetative bacteria and fungi and lipid envelop viruses
eg quaternary ammonium germicidal detergent solution

Question 14

consideration when selecting a disinfectant

Answer 14

1. efficacy
2. what are risk factors in this setting/procedure/patient - is it routine disinfection, is it after patent with suspected infectious disease, or with diagnosed one
3. object
4. safety profile - toxicity, PPE
5. practicality - contact time, method of delivery, availability, cost

Question 15

4 categories of patients diagnosed with infectious disease based on

Answer 15

biosafety risk - potential for transmission and zoonotic potential
not associated with severity of prognosis of the disease

Question 16

category 1 patients

Answer 16

risk for transmission and zoonotic potential is low
no need for isolation
routine procedures as for other patients is enough - hand hygiene, PPE, routine cleaning and disinfection
eg tetanus, botulism

Question 17

category 2 patients

Answer 17

diseases that can be transmitted from animal to animal or human but that requires intensive or prolonged contact or vectors
most pathogens from this category cannot live long outside of the host and are susceptible to routinely used disinfectants
separate cages with no contact between patients, control of ectoparasites
regular cleaning and standard disinfectants
eg FeLV, FIV, anaplasmosis, echrlichiosis, haemobartonellosis

Question 18

category 3 patients

Answer 18

diseases that are easily transmitted, by direct or indirect contact (secretions, excretions) and zoonoses
separate cages and prevent indirect contact
separate equipment for each animal
special care of waste
PPE
disinfection mats on entrances
routine disinfectants not efficient
after discharge - extensive cleaning, drying and disinfection
eg leptospirosis, brucellosis, salmonellosis, dermatophytosis

Question 19

category 4 patients

Answer 19

disease that are extremely contagious or zoonotic, often transmitted by feral oral route to droplets - rapid spread in susceptible population
separate cages or room
PPE, prevent indirect contact
disinfection mats on entrance floor
intensive cleaning and disinfection of everything
after discharge extensive cleaning, drying and disinfection with adequate chemicals
eg FHV, FCV, Bordetella, TB, parvo, distemper, rabies

Question 20

retorviral infections in cats biosafety

Answer 20

FIV, FeLV
viruses down survive long in environment
close or prolonged contact required for transmission
sensitive to most disinfectants
isolated infected animals but no specific precautions
prevent infections with other pathogens

Question 21

leptospirosis biosafety

Answer 21

is it on the blood or urine - depends on stage of infection
caution when handling urine - goggles?
desiccation and disinfectants destroy bacteria

Question 22

dermatophytosis and biosafety

Answer 22

thorough cleaning - spores contaminate surfaces - have to be mechanically removed (hoovering and washing) and the rest disinfected
it is very resistant
sodium hypochlorite 1:10
laundry at high temps

Question 23

rabies and biosafety

Answer 23

transmission is not easy - through bites
lethal outcome
have to be in isolation unit - extreme caution when handling suspected rabies
if bitten - wash with soap and warm water and then 70% alcohol or povidone iodine
virus sensitive to disinfectants and doesn’t survive long in the surroundings

Question 24

parvovirus in dogs biosafety

Answer 24

complete isolation
extremely contagious - fecal oral transmission
survive for months outside host
resistant to most disinfectants - Na-hypochlorite 6% contact time 10 mins or aldehydes (toxic)
all possible measures to prevent direct and indirect contact

Question 25

upper resp infections in dogs and cats biosafety

Answer 25

extremely contagious
treat as outpatients wherever possible
is hospitalised - separate room