Lecture 2 biological hazards

Question 1

What are biological hazards?

Answer 1

biological substances/materials that poses threat to the health of living organisms.

Sign in usually placed in second door to prevent accessibility to unauthorized personnel.

Question 2

What are Laboratory Acquired Infections (LAIs)?

Answer 2

• all infections acquired through laboratory or laboratory-related activities. Regardless symptomatic or asymptomatic.
• aka occupational illnesses or laboratory
  associated infections

Question 3

How does LAI occur?

Answer 3

1) infectious agent
- study agent
- unknown infectious agent
- carrier/ latent infections (showing no symptoms)
- viral vectors

2) Laboratory Reservoir
- Tissue or cell cultures
- Infected animal or arthropod (insects)
- Lab worker

3) Host
Susceptibility (vulnerability to infections) of host depends on immune system , dose and immunization.
Reasons for greater susceptibility:
1) pregnancy: immunity reduced to protect baby
2) genetic make up
3) immune suppression

4) Exposure
- Accidental
- Incidental
- Direct
- Indirect

Question 4

What is the most common route of exposure?

Answer 4

80% by inhalation or by hand contamination.
20% by Percutaneous inoculation (cuts, exposure), Ingestion and spills and splashes.

Question 5

What is the Importance of pathogen risk classification? What are the risk group classification systems?

Answer 5

• characterizes consequences and likelihood of exposure to infectious material
• guided by relevant pathogen information

Risk group classification systems are based on their association with, and resulting severity of disease in humans. It assesses both individual and community risks.
- Different across regions and country.

IMPORTANT TO KNOW: WHO risk groups and BATA risk groups