Biohazard Waste
Microbial Sources & Routes of Infection
1. Blood 2. Culture specimens 3. Body fluids 4. Unfixed microscopic smears (slides) 5. Fecal specimens 6. Urine 7. Body tissue & cadavers 8. Laboratory animals 9. People
Route of Infection
1. Infectious agent 2. Reservoir of pathogen 3. Portal of escape/exit 4. Transmission 5. Route of entry/infectious dose 6. Susceptible host 7. Incubation period 8. Restart cycle
Biohazard Level 2
Bacteria & viruses that cause only mild disease to humans or are difficult to contract via aerosol (Hep A, B, C, influenza A, Lyme disease, salmonella, mumps, HIV), routine diagnostic work with clinical specimens, associated with human disease with direct contact or percutaneous injury, ingestion, & mucous membrane exposure
Biohazard Level 3
Bacteria & viruses that cause severe to fatal disease in humans but for which vaccines or other treatments exist (smallpox, TB, typhus, yellow fever, malaria), indigenous or exotic agents with potential for aerosol transmission, may have serious or lethal consequences
What is the test for TB called?
Mantoux or PPD test
How do you dispose biohazard waste?
OSHA oversees the requirements for how biohazard waste is removed based on location & type of material
Biohazard Level 4
Viruses & bacteria that cause sever to fatal disease in humans but for which vaccines or other treatments do not exist (Ebola), use of hazmat suit & self-contained oxygen supply is mandatory, multiple safety precautions will be present in this lab
Biohazard Waste
a result of human or animal treatment & contains materials that are considered infectious or potentially dangerous, also referred to as biomedical or infectious waste
Primary Causes of Lab Infections
inhalation of aerosols, accidental ingestion, insect transferal, direct inoculation (needle puncture), mucous membrane splashes
Biohazard Level 1
precautions against the biohazardous matierals in question are minimal, involves gloves & face protection, decontamination procedures: washing hands with antibacterial soap & washing exposed surfaces with disinfectants, all materials are decontaminated via autoclave, not known to consistently cause disease in healthy adults
What are the considerations when handling biohazard waste?
proper precautions such as gloves & face masks should be used to protect anyone handling biohazard waste
