8/8/2019 Appendix - Safe Handling of Microorganisms

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/appendix-safe-handling-of-microorganisms 1/3

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

8/8/2019 Appendix - Safe Handling of Microorganisms

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/appendix-safe-handling-of-microorganisms 2/3

Safe Han dling of Microorganisms 2 0 5

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

1

0

10.

11.

12.

13.

14.

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.

8/8/2019 Appendix - Safe Handling of Microorganisms

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/appendix-safe-handling-of-microorganisms 3/3

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 .