Biorisk Management Module B Quiz

Study Notes

Human health risks are a primary focus in risk assessments for biological agents, along with environmental hazards.
Risks to human health include infection, toxicity, carcinogenicity, and allergic reactions.
Environmental threats arise from unintentional releases due to containment failures or waste disposal issues.
Biological agents encompass a range of microorganisms including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites.
Each biological agent presents unique risks based on infection routes, disease severity, community spread, and treatment availability.
Knowledgeable personnel must conduct risk assessments for accurate evaluations.

The WHO Laboratory Biosafety Manual (LBSM) sets a global standard for biosafety practices in laboratories.
The LBSM includes detailed guidelines on risk assessment, laboratory design, personal protective equipment, and waste management.
Identifying all possible routes of infection is essential for implementing effective control measures.
Understanding both natural and laboratory transmission routes is critical; e.g., insect vectors and sharps injuries.
Minimal infectious dose varies by agent; for example, HIV has a high infectious dose whereas Hepatitis B has a low one.
Procedures like pipetting and centrifugation can generate infectious aerosols, increasing infection risk.

Heightened control measures are necessary when biological agents pose unacceptable risks not mitigated by core requirements alone.
High consequence exposure necessitates additional safety controls, particularly for serious pathogens or aerosol-generating procedures.
Specific measures may include biological safety cabinets for airborne pathogens like Mycobacterium tuberculosis and protective gear for blood-borne pathogens like Hepatitis B.

Maximum containment facilities provide the highest safety levels for handling exceptionally dangerous biological agents.
Such facilities are required where agents have severe consequences and a high likelihood of exposure.

Risk Group 1: Unlikely to cause human disease.
Risk Group 2: Can cause human disease, minimal community spread risk, typically manageable with treatment.
Risk Group 3: Can cause severe disease, presents serious employee hazards, possible community spread, effective treatment usually available.
Risk Group 4: Causes severe disease, serious employee risk, likely to spread to the community, no effective treatment/prophylaxis.

Core competencies involve understanding procedures and risk assessments for all biological safety levels.
For heightened measures, staff must possess technical competencies and knowledge of waste disposal and disinfection policies.
Higher-risk work requires advanced training in emergency procedures, including fumigation and cabinet sealing.

Risk assessments must be periodically reviewed to accommodate any procedural changes or emerging information.

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