Appendix - Safe Handling of Microorganisms
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Appendix 6 Safe Handling of Microorganisms Many of the procedures used in molecular biology research involve the use of live microorganisms. Whenever such organisms are used, it is essential that labo ratory workers adhere rigidly to a microbiology laboratory code of practice and thereby significantly reduce the possi- bility of causing a laboratory-acquired infection. The safest way to approach work with live microorganisms is to make the following assumptions: 1. Every microorganism used in the laboratory is potentially haz- ardous. 2. Every culture fluid contains potentially pathogenic organisms. 3. Every culture fluid contains potentially toxic substances. The basis of a microbiology laboratory code of practice is that no direct contact should be made with the experimental organisms or culture fluids, e.g., contact with the skin, nose, eyes, or mouth. It must also be noted that a large proportion of laboratory-acquired infections result from the inhalation of infectious aerosols released during laboratory procedures. Below is a list of instructions that forms the basis of a microbiology laboratory code of practice. 204
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Transcript of Appendix - Safe Handling of Microorganisms
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Append ix
6
Safe Handl ing
of Microorganisms
Many of the procedures used in molecula r b io logy research involve
the use of l ive microorgani sms . Whenever such organi sms a re used ,
i t is es sent ia l tha t l abo ra tory work ers adhere r ig id ly to a microbio logy
lab ora tory c ode of pract ice and the reby s ignif icant ly reduce the poss i -
b i li ty of caus ing a l abora tory -acqui red infec t ion .
The sa fes t way to approach work wi th l ive microorgani sms i s
to make the fo l lowing as sumpt ions :
1 . Every microorgani sm used in the l abora tory i s po tent i a l ly haz-
a rdous .
2. Every cul ture f luid contains potent ia l ly pathogenic organisms.
3. Every cul ture f luid contains potent ia l ly toxic subs tances .
The bas i s of a microbio logy l abora tory code of prac t i ce i s tha t
no d i rec t contac t should be made wi th the exper imenta l organi sms
or cul ture f luids , e .g. , contact wi th the skin, nose, eyes , or mouth. I t
mus t a l so be noted tha t a l a rge propor t ion of l abora tory-acqui red
infect ions resul t f rom the inhalat ion of infect ious aerosols re leased
during laboratory procedures . Below is a l i s t of ins t ruct ions thatforms the bas i s of a microbio logy l abora tory code of prac t i ce .
204
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A labo ra to ry c oa t t ha t cove rs the trun k to the neck mus t be wo rn
at al l t imes.
The re mu s t be no ea ting , d r ink ing , o r smok ing in the l abora to ry .
The re mus t be no l i ck ing o f gummed l abe l s .
Touch ing the face , eyes , and so on shou ld be avo ided .
The re mus t be no chewing o r b i t i ng o f pens o r penc i l s .
Avai lable bench space must be kept c lear , c lean, t idy, and f ree
of unessen t i a l i t ems such a s books and handbags .
N o m a t e r ia l s sh o u ld b e r e m o v e d f r o m t h e l a b o r a t o r y w i t h o u t t h e
express pe rmiss ion o f the l ab ora to ry supe rv i so r o r sa fe ty o f fi ce r.
Al l man ipu la t ions , such a s by p ipe t o r l oop , shou ld be pe r fo rm ed
in a manner l i ke ly to p reven t t he p roduc t ion o f an ae roso l o f
the con tamina ted ma te r i a l .
P ipe t ti ng by m ou th o f a n y l iquid is str ict ly forbid de n. Pipe t fi llers,
o r au toma t i c p ipe t s , a re used ins t ead .
Al l man ipu la t ions shou ld be pe r fo rmed a sep t i ca l ly , us ing
p lugged , s t e r i l e p ipe t s , and the con tamina ted p ipe t s shou ld be
immedia te ly s te r i l ized by to ta l immersion in a sui table dis in-
fec tant .
Con tamina ted g l a ssware and d i sca rded pe t r i d i shes mus t be
placed in l idded receptac les provided for the i r d isposa l .
Al l used microscope s l ides should be placed in receptac les con-
ta ining dis infec tant .
I t mu s t be recogn ized tha t ce r t a in p rocedures o r equ ipm ent , e .g .,
ag i t a t ion o f f lu ids in f l a sks , p roduce ae roso l s o f con tamina ted
mate r i a l s . L ids shou ld be kep t on con tamina ted vesse l s , when
possible .
Al l acc idents , inc luding minor cuts , abrasions, and spi l l s of cul -
tu re flu ids and reagen t s , mu s t be r epor t ed to the l ab ora to ry supe r -visor or safety officer.
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20 6 Appendix 6
1 5 . B e f o r e l e a v i n g t h e b e n c h , s w a b y o u r w o r k i n g a r e a w i t h a n a p p r o -
p r i a t e d i s in fe c ta n t f lu id .
1 6 . W h e n e v e r y o u l e a v e t h e l a b o r a t o r y , w a s h y o u r h a n d s w i t h a
g e r m i c i d al s o a p a n d d r y t h e m w i t h p a p e r t o w e ls . L a b o r a t o r yc o a t s s h o u l d b e r e m o v e d a n d s t o r e d f o r f u t u r e u s e o r l a u n d e r e d .
D o n o t u n d e r a n y c i r c u m s t a n c e s w a n d e r i n t o a n o f f i c e o r r e s t -
r o o m a r e a w e a r i n g a p o t e n t i a l l y c o n t a m i n a t e d l a b o r a t o r y c o a t .
