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Questions and Answers
Which of the following actions is defined as the act of introduction of a substance into the body?
What is the primary cause of laboratory acquired infections according to the data?
What event related to biosafety occurred in 1975?
What is a key recommendation from A.G. Wedum regarding biosafety measures?
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Which component is essential for maintaining information security?
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Which term describes the presence of an unwanted substance or impurity on skin or mucous membranes?
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What does a personnel reliability program focus on?
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Which process is critical for managing transport security effectively?
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What is a key aspect of biosecurity related to pathogen access?
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Which of the following is part of effective intrusion detection?
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Which pathogen is classified under Risk Group 3?
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What type of work area is typical for Biosafety Level (BSL) 2?
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What type of work area is typical for pathogens classified under BSL 4?
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Which of the following is NOT a safety practice for Risk Group 1?
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What is a key characteristic of pathogens in Risk Group 2?
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What pathogen is an example of Risk Group 4?
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What distinguishes pathogens in Risk Group 4 from those in Risk Group 3?
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Which of the following is a common example of a Risk Group 2 pathogen?
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What is the primary purpose of biosafety regulations?
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Which of the following describes the role of primary containment equipment?
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What type of respiratory protection includes N95 and N100 respirators?
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What is a common misconception regarding the use of gloves in a laboratory setting?
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What is the primary purpose of secondary barriers in biosafety?
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Which of the following principles is foundational to laboratory safety?
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Which of these is considered a primary containment barrier?
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What is one of the key components of the European Commission's directive on biosafety?
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In the context of laboratory safety, what does HEPA stand for?
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What type of equipment is crucial for the effective primary containment of infectious materials?
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What is an aspect important for ensuring laboratory personnel are aware of hazards?
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Which of the following practices is NOT recommended for using lab coats?
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Which biosafety level represents microorganisms that are unlikely to cause disease in humans or animals?
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What is the primary focus of biosafety?
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Which of the following distinguishes biosafety from biosecurity?
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What is a primary objective of biosecurity within laboratories?
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Which microorganism is most likely to be classified in a higher risk group?
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Which organization typically addresses international biosafety standards?
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The main consequence of a biosafety breach in a laboratory is likely to be:
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Why is it essential to categorize laboratories according to their biosafety level?
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What does a brucellosis outbreak primarily highlight in terms of biosafety concerns?
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Study Notes
Biosafety
- Definition: Containment principles, technologies, and practices that prevent unintentional exposure to pathogens and toxins, or their release.
- Purpose: Protect the worker from bad bugs.
- Example of Biosafety in action: Bacterial outbreak in China after a factory leak.
- Biosafety Levels: Increase in protection of both worker and environment
Biosecurity
- Definition: Protection, control, and accountability for valuable biological materials within laboratories to prevent unauthorized access, loss, theft, misuse, diversion, or intentional release.
- Purpose: Protect the bugs from bad workers.
Chain of Infection
- A series of events involved in the transmission of microbes from a reservoir to a susceptible host.
Laboratory-Acquired Infections
- Infections (symptomatic or asymptomatic) acquired through laboratory-related activities due to working with infectious agents.
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Causative Events:
- 20% due to equipment failure.
- 80% due to human error.
Accidents Resulting in Infection
- Ingestion: Consumption of a substance by an organism.
- Inoculation: Introduction of a substance into the body.
- Contamination: Presence of an unwanted substance or purity in the skin or mucous membrane.
- Inhalation: Drawing air or other substances into the lungs.
History of Biosafety
- A.G. Wedum: Pioneer in developing biosafety measures after World War II, evaluating risks of handling hazardous biological agents and developing practices, equipment, and facility safeguards.
- Asilomar Conference (1975): Developed general principles for dealing with potential biohazards related to GMOs, suggesting containment as an essential consideration for experimental design.
- 1976: First edition of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) guidelines for research involving DNA molecules.
- 1984: First edition of the guidebook, "Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories," produced by the NIH and CDC.
- 1990: The EU's Directive on the protection of workers from risks related to exposure to biological agents published.
Organizations
- CDC: Oversees public health and safety including laboratory safety.
- OSHA: Develops and enforces workplace standards to protect employee safety and health.
- International Federation of Biosafety Associations (IFBA): A global organization that supports the biosafety community through networking, sharing information and good practices.
Fundamental Concepts
- Laboratory safety
- Bloodborne pathogens
- Recombinant DNA
- Biological waste disposal
- Transport of biological materials
- Respiratory protection
- Bioterrorism and select agents
- Mold and indoor air quality
- Occupational safety
- Health in the use of research animals
Biocontainment
- Definition: The principle of holding or being capable of holding or including within a fixed limit or area.
- Biocontainment in practice: Preventing the release of biological agents.
Primary Barriers
- Control the hazard at the source, including:
- Biological Safety Cabinets (BSC)
- HEPA filters
Secondary Barriers
- Structures surrounding primary barriers that protect against the hazard, including:
- Sealed perimeter
- Exhaust HEPA filters
Primary Containment Equipment
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Purpose: Minimizes exposure to hazards:
- Biological Safety Cabinets
- Animal enclosures
- Sealed centrifuge rotors
HEPA Filters
- Definition: High-Efficiency Particulate Air filters.
- Function: Remove a broad range of airborne contaminants to protect the environment.
Laminar Flow Hood
- Purpose: Provides a sterile workspace to prevent the contamination of experiments.
Biosafety Practices and Procedures
- Standard practices: Include safe personal practices like hand washing and general laboratory techniques.
- Special practices and considerations: Include specialized procedures for working with specific hazards.
- Safety Equipment: Includes barriers to protect the worker from hazards.
- Facility Design and Construction: Includes structural elements to protect both the worker and the environment.
Biosafety Levels
- Purpose: Increasing levels of employee and environmental protection.
- Function: Provide guidelines for working safely in research and clinical laboratories.
Classification of Infectious Microorganisms by Risk Group
- Risk Group 1: Microorganisms unlikely to cause human or animal disease.
- Risk Group 2: Pathogens that can cause human or animal disease but are unlikely to be a serious hazard to laboratory workers.
- Risk Group 3: Pathogens that usually cause serious human or animal disease but do not ordinarily spread from one infected individual to another.
- Risk Group 4: Pathogens that usually cause serious human or animal disease and can be readily transmitted from one individual to another.
Biosafety Level 1 (BSL-1)
- Typical Work Area: Open bench.
- Example Microorganisms: S. cerevisiae (yeast), Lactobacillus, B. subtilis.
Biosafety Level 2 (BSL-2)
- Typical Work Area: Biosafety cabinet/laminar flow hood.
- Example Microorganisms: Hepatitis B virus, HIV, Salmonellae, Toxoplasma spp.
Biosafety Level 3 (BSL-3)
- Typical Work Area: Class 3 biosafety cabinet.
- Example Microorganisms: M. tuberculosis, St. Louis encephalitis virus, Yersinia pestis, SARS virus, Coxiella burnetti.
Biosafety Level 4 (BSL-4)
- Typical Work Area: Full isolation suits.
- Example Microorganisms: Ebola, Marburg or Congo-Crimean hemorrhagic fever viruses
Biosecurity Hierarchy Related to Biosafety Levels
- Level 1: Focuses on limiting access to the laboratory workspace.
- Level 2: Focuses on the security of the lab and the materials within.
- Level 3: Focuses on the security of the lab, surrounding area, and materials within.
- Level 4: Focuses on the highest levels of security, with strict protocols and controls.
Biosecurity Practices
- These practices are implemented to prevent the release of pathogens into the environment and to ensure that harmful agents are not stolen, misused, or used for malicious purposes.
Biosecurity Considerations:
- Physical Security: Includes access control, intrusion detection, and response procedures.
- Information Security: Includes confidentiality, integrity, and availability of information.
- Personnel Security: Includes background checks, periodic investigations, and personnel reliability programs.
- Transport Security: Includes three-way packaging, knowledge of IATA-certified personnel, and records of internal/external transfers.
- Pathogen Security: Includes detailed pathogen inventories, inactiviation and disposal records.
- Effectiveness of biosecurity depends on the integrity of those with access to the pathogen.
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Description
Test your knowledge on the principles of biosafety and biosecurity. This quiz covers containment practices, the chain of infection, and laboratory-acquired infections. Understand the importance of protecting both workers and biological materials in laboratory settings.
