Recreational Water and Infection

This paper reviews the latest evidence provided by epidemiological studies and quantitative microbial risk assessments (QMRAs) of infection risk from recreational water use. Studies for review were selected following a PubMed search for articles published between January 2010 and April 2014. Epidemiological studies show a generally elevated risk of gastrointestinal illness in bathers compared to non-bathers but often no clear association with water quality as measured by faecal indicator bacteria; this is especially true where study sites are impacted by non-point source pollution. Evidence from QMRAs support the lack of a consistent water quality association for non-point source-impacted beaches. It is suggested that source attribution, through quantified microbial source apportionment, linked with appropriate use of microbial source tracking methods should be employed as an integral part of future epidemiological surveys.

REFERENCE:
Fewtrell L, Kay D. Recreational Water and Infection: A Review of Recent Findings. Curr Environ Health Rep. 2015 Mar;2(1):85-94. doi: 10.1007/s40572-014-0036-6. Review.

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Analysis of the risk of acquiring infections from recreational exposure to seawater

Background: Numerous illnesses are associated with bathing in natural waters, although it is assumed that the risk of illness among bathers exposed to relatively clean waters found in high-income countries is negligible. A systematic review was carried out to quantify the increased risk of experiencing a range of adverse health outcomes among bathers exposed to coastal water compared with non-bathers.
Methods: In all 6919 potentially relevant titles and abstracts were screened, and from these 40 studies were eligible for inclusion in the review. Odds ratios (OR) were extracted from 19 of these reports and combined in random-effect meta-analyses for the following adverse health outcomes: incident cases of any illness, ear infections, gastrointestinal illness and infections caused by specific microorganisms.
Results: There is an increased risk of experiencing symptoms of any illness [OR = 1.86, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.31 to 2.64, P = 0.001] and ear ailments (OR = 2.05, 95% CI: 1.49 to 2.82, P < 0.001) in bathers compared with non-bathers. There is also an increased risk of experiencing gastrointestinal ailments (OR = 1.29, 95% CI: 1.12 to 1.49, P < 0.001).
Conclusions:  This is the first systematic review to evaluate evidence on the increased risk of acquiring illnesses from bathing in seawater compared with non-bathers. Our results support the notion that infections are acquired from bathing in coastal waters, and that bathers have a greater risk of experiencing a variety of illnesses compared with non-bathers.

REFERENCES:
Leonard AFC, et al. Is it safe to go back into the water? A systematic review and meta-analysis of the risk of acquiring infections from recreational exposure to seawater. Int J Epidemiol. 2018 Feb 26.  doi: 10.1093/ije/dyx281.

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Transmission of droplet-mediated respiratory diseases in airline flights

With over 3 billion airline passengers annually, the inflight transmission of infectious diseases is an important global health concern. Over a dozen cases of inflight transmission of serious infections have been documented, and air travel can serve as a conduit for the rapid spread of newly emerging infections and pandemics. Despite sensational media stories, risks of transmission of respiratory viruses in an airplane cabin are unknown. Movements of passengers and crew may facilitate disease transmission. On 10 transcontinental US flights, we chronicled behaviors and movements of individuals in the economy cabin on single-aisle aircraft. We simulated transmission during flight based on these data. This data-driven, dynamic network transmission model of droplet-mediated respiratory disease is unique.

REFERENCE:
Hertzberg VS, et al. Behaviors, movements, and transmission of droplet-mediated respiratory diseases during transcontinental airline flights. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2018 Mar 19. pii: 201711611. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1711611115.
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#WebinarAMEXBIO: Equipo de protección

Equipo de protección para laboratorios microbiológicos

1. Guantes           Abril 6, 2018
2. Batas               Abril 20, 2018
3. Respiradores   Abril 27, 2018

13:00 hrs., Cd. de México

Registro gratuito. Cupo limitado.

No se emiten constancias

PRE-REGISTRO

En esta serie de 3 seminarios en línea (webinar) se revisarán las características del equipo de protección para el manejo de microorganismos. Así mismo, se revisarán las estrategias para un uso adecuado. De la misma forma revisar la importancia de la normatividad oficial correspondiente vigente.

No se emiten constancias de asistencia.
Pre-registro por internet en: https://goo.gl/AAS1jm
Descarguen la App para escuchar este webinar AQUI.

www.amexbio.org

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Development and Testing of a Method for Validating Chemical Inactivation of Ebola Virus

Complete inactivation of infectious Ebola virus (EBOV) is required before a sample may be removed from a Biosafety Level 4 laboratory. The United States Federal Select Agent Program regulations require that procedures used to demonstrate chemical inactivation must be validated in-house to confirm complete inactivation. The objective of this study was to develop a method for validating chemical inactivation of EBOV and then demonstrate the effectiveness of several commonly-used inactivation methods. Samples containing infectious EBOV (Zaire ebolavirus) in different matrices were treated, and the sample was diluted to limit the cytopathic effect of the inactivant. The presence of infectious virus was determined by assessing the cytopathic effect in Vero E6 cells. Crucially, this method did not result in a loss of infectivity in control samples, and we were able to detect less than five infectious units of EBOV (Zaire ebolavirus). We found that TRIzol LS reagent and RNA-Bee inactivated EBOV in serum; TRIzol LS reagent inactivated EBOV in clarified cell culture media; TRIzol reagent inactivated EBOV in tissue and infected Vero E6 cells; 10% neutral buffered formalin inactivated EBOV in tissue; and osmium tetroxide vapors inactivated EBOV on transmission electron microscopy grids. The methods described herein are easily performed and can be adapted to validate inactivation of viruses in various matrices and by various chemical methods.
REFERENCE:
Alfson KJ, Griffiths A. Development and Testing of a Method for Validating Chemical Inactivation of Ebola Virus. Viruses. 2018 Mar 13;10(3). pii: E126.


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Reunión Anual de la Red Suiza de Bioseguridad 2018 #SBNet

La Red Suiza de Bioseguridad, realizará del 23 al 24 de Agosto, 12th Applied Biosafety Meeting, en el Palazzo dei Congressi, en Lugano, Suiza. 

INFORMES Y REGISTRO:
PROGRAMA
http://www.swissbiosafety.ch

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Infection Prevention and Control Measures in the Emergency Department

This document has been prepared in connection with Action 8 of the Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux’ (MSSS) Plan d’action sur la prévention et le contrôle des infections nosocomiales 2010-2015 [2010-2015 Action plan for healthcare-associated infections prevention and control](4). Its purpose is to make recommendations for IPC in the emergency departments of Québec’s hospitals. The recommendations are primarily intended for general and specialized hospital centres. They will have to be adapted according to the facility’s mission, the patient population served and various local epidemiological factors. The recommendations in the document are categorized under the different areas of the emergency department (Appendix 1) and integrate Health Canada’s three-tier hierarchy of IPC controls: engineering controls, administrative controls, and personal protective equipment (Appendix 2). Engineering control recommendations should be given priority when constructing new emergency departments or renovating existing emergency departments. An action plan should be developed to ensure these recommendations are integrated into future work.
REFERENCE:
Infection Prevention and Control Measures in the Emergency Department. Comité sur les infections nosocomiales du Québec (CINQ). Institut national de santé publique du Québec, 2015.

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Occupational Hazards in the Thai Healthcare Sector

Healthcare personnel work in vulnerable conditions that can adversely impact physical and/or mental health. This paper aims to synthesize the state of knowledge on work-related illnesses, injuries, and risks experienced by Thai healthcare workers. We found that Thai healthcare personnel, like others worldwide, are at risk for injury related to needle sticks and sharp instruments; infectious diseases due to biological hazards exposure such as airborne pathogens and patient secretions; muscle pain due to workload and long duration of work; and psychological disorders related to stressful working conditions. Because detailed surveillance data are limited for the Thai healthcare workforce, we recommend that additional surveillance data on Thai healthcare workers’ health outcomes be collected. Future research efforts should also focus on evidence-based interventions in order to develop methods to prevent and treat occupational health injuries and illnesses acquired in the workplace for Thai healthcare sector workers.
REFERENCE:
Tipayamongkholgul, Mathuros et al. “Occupational Hazards in the Thai Healthcare Sector.” New solutions : a journal of environmental and occupational health policy : NS 26.1 (2016): 83–102. PMC. Web. 5 Mar. 2018.


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Certification & validation of biosafety level-2 & biosafety level-3 laboratories in Indian settings & common issues

MIT Lab (render)

With increasing awareness regarding biorisk management worldwide, many biosafety laboratories are being setup in India. It is important for the facility users, project managers and the executing agencies to understand the process of validation and certification of such biosafety laboratories. There are some international guidelines available, but there are no national guidelines or reference standards available in India on certification and validation of biosafety laboratories. There is no accredited government/private agency available in India to undertake validation and certification of biosafety laboratories. Therefore, the reliance is mostly on indigenous experience, talent and expertise available, which is in short supply. This article elucidates the process of certification and validation of biosafety laboratories in a concise manner for the understanding of the concerned users and suggests the important parameters and criteria that should be considered and addressed during the laboratory certification and validation process.
REFERENCE

Mourya DT,et al. Certification & validation of biosafety level-2 & biosafety level-3 laboratories in Indian settings & common issues. J Med Res. 2017 Oct; 146(4): 459–467. doi:  10.4103/ijmr.IJMR_974_16

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Botulinum neurotoxin–encoding plasmids can be conjugatively transferred to diverse clostridial strains #Clostridium

Most Group I Clostridium botulinum strains harbor botulinum neurotoxin (bont) genes on their chromosome, while some carry these genes (including bont/a, bont/b, and bont/f) on large plasmids. Prior work in our laboratory demonstrated that Group I BoNT plasmids were mobilized to C. botulinum recipient strains containing the Tn916 transposon. Here, we show that Tn916 is nonessential for plasmid transfer. Relying on an auxotrophic donor phenotype and a plasmid-borne selectable marker, we observed the transfer of pCLJ, a 270 kb plasmid harboring two bont genes, from its host strain to various clostridia. Transfer frequency was greatest to other Group I C. botulinum strains, but the plasmid was also transferred into traditionally nontoxigenic species, namely C. sporogenes and C. butyricum. Expression and toxicity of BoNT/A4 was confirmed in transconjugants by immunoblot and mouse bioassay. These data indicate that conjugation within the genus Clostridium can occur across physiological Groups of C. botulinum, supporting horizontal gene transfer via bont-bearing plasmids. The transfer of plasmids possessing bont genes to resistant Clostridium spp. such as C. sporogenes could impact biological safety for animals and humans. These plasmids may play an environmental role in initiating death in vertebrates, leading to decomposition and nutrient recycling of animal biomass.
REFERENCE:
Nawrocki EM, et al. Botulinum neurotoxin–encoding plasmids can be conjugatively transferred to diverse clostridial strains. Sci Rep. 2018; 8: 3100. Published online 2018 Feb 15. doi:  10.1038/s41598-018-21342-9.

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Evaluating the Sporicidal Activity of Disinfectants against #Clostridium difficile and Bacillus amyloliquefaciens Spores

Spore-forming pathogenic bacteria, such as Clostridium difficile, are associated with nosocomial infection, leading to the increased use of sporicidal disinfectants, which impacts socioeconomic costs. However, C. difficile can be prevented using microorganisms such as Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, a prophylactic agent that has been proven to be effective against it in recent tests or it can be controlled by sporicidal disinfectants. These disinfectants against spores should be evaluated according to a known and recommended standard. Unfortunately, some newly manufactured disinfectants like Bioxy products have not yet been tested. ASTM E2197-11 is a standard test that uses stainless steel disks (1 cm in diameter) as carriers, and the performance of the test formulation is calculated by comparing the number of viable test organisms to that on the control carriers. Surface tests are preferable for evaluating disinfectants with sporicidal effects on hard surfaces. This study applies improved methods, based on the ASTM E2197-11 standard, for evaluating and comparing the sporicidal efficacies of several disinfectants against spores of C. difficile and B. amyloliquefaciens, which are used as the test organisms. With the improved method, all spores were recovered through vortexing and membrane filtration. The results show that chlorine-based products are effective in 5 min and Bioxy products at 5% w/v are effective in 10 min. Although Bioxy products may take longer to prove their effectiveness, their non-harmful effects to hospital surfaces and people have been well established in the literature.

REFERENCE:
Uwamahoro MC et al. Evaluating the Sporicidal Activity of Disinfectants against Clostridium difficile and Bacillus amyloliquefaciens Spores by Using the Improved Methods Based on ASTM E2197-11. Public Health. 2018; 6: 18. Published online 2018 Feb 5. doi:  10.3389/fpubh.2018.00018

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Containment Studies of Transgenic Mosquitoes in Disease Endemic Countries

Genetic strategies for large scale pest or vector control using modified insects are not yet operational in Africa, and currently rely on import of the modified strains to begin preliminary, contained studies. Early involvement of research teams from participating countries is crucial to evaluate candidate field interventions. Following the recommended phased approach for novel strategies, evaluation should begin with studies in containment facilities. Experiences to prepare facilities and build international teams for research on transgenic mosquitoes revealed some important organizing themes underlying the concept of "facilities readiness," or the point at which studies in containment may proceed, in sub-Saharan African settings. First, "compliance" for research with novel or non-native living organisms was defined as the fulfillment of all legislative and regulatory requirements. This is not limited to regulations regarding use of transgenic organisms. Second, the concept of "colony utility" was related to the characteristics of laboratory colonies being produced so that results of studies may be validated across time, sites, and strains or technologies; so that the appropriate candidate strains are moved forward toward field studies. Third, the importance of achieving "defensible science" was recognized, including that study conclusions can be traced back to evidence, covering the concerns of various stakeholders over the long term. This, combined with good stewardship of resources and appropriate funding, covers a diverse set of criteria for declaring when "facilities readiness" has been attained. It is proposed that, despite the additional demands on time and resources, only with the balance of and rigorous achievement of each of these organizing themes can collaborative research into novel strategies in vector or pest control reliably progress past initial containment studies.
REFERENCE:
Quinlan MM, et al. Containment Studies of Transgenic Mosquitoes in Disease Endemic Countries: The Broad Concept of Facilities Readiness. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis. 2018 Jan;18(1):14-20. doi: 10.1089/vbz.2017.2189. PubMed PMID: 29337664; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5770120.

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Invitación a publicar en Applied Biosafety Journal

http://journals.sagepub.com/home/apbb

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NOM-018-STPS-2015, Sistema armonizado para la identificación de sustancias químicas peligrosas

Objetivo
Establecer los requisitos para disponer en los centros de trabajo del sistema armonizado de identificación y comunicación de peligros y riesgos por sustancias químicas peligrosas, a fin de prevenir daños a los trabajadores y al personal que actúa en caso de emergencia.
Campo de aplicación
La presente Norma Oficial Mexicana rige en todo el territorio nacional y aplica a todos los centros de trabajo donde se manejen sustancias químicas peligrosas.
No aplica a productos terminados tales como: farmacéuticos, aditivos alimenticios, artículos cosméticos, residuos de plaguicidas en los alimentos y residuos peligrosos.
REFERENCIA:
NORMA Oficial Mexicana NOM-018-STPS-2015, Sistema armonizado para la identificación y comunicación de peligros y riesgos por sustancias químicas peligrosas en los centros de trabajo.

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Preparation of Containment Facilities for Studies of Transgenic Mosquitoes

Novel approaches to area-wide control of vector species offer promise as additional tools in the fight against vectored diseases. Evaluation of transgenic insect strains aimed at field population control in disease-endemic countries may involve international partnerships and should be done in a stepwise approach, starting with studies in containment facilities. The preparations of both new-build and renovated facilities are described, including working with local and national regulations regarding land use, construction, and biosafety requirements, as well as international guidance to fill any gaps in regulation. The examples given are for containment categorization at Arthropod Containment Level 2 for initial facility design, classification of wastes, and precautions during shipping. Specific lessons were derived from preparations to evaluate transgenic (non-gene drive) mosquitoes in West and East African countries. Documented procedures and the use of a non-transgenic training strain for trial shipments and culturing were used to develop competence and confidence among the African facility staff, and along the chain of custody for transport. This practical description is offered to support other research consortia or institutions preparing containment facilities and operating procedures in conditions where research on transgenic insects is at an early stage.
REFERENCE:
MM Quinlan et al. Studies of Transgenic Mosquitoes in Disease-Endemic Countries: Preparation of Containment Facilities. Borne Zoonotic Dis. 2018 Jan 1; 18(1): 21–30. Published online 2018 Jan 1. doi:  10.1089/vbz.2017.2192

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Detection of antimicrobial resistance in the International Space Station surface

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global health issue. In an effort to minimize this threat to astronauts, who may be immunocompromised and thus at a greater risk of infection from antimicrobial resistant pathogens, a comprehensive study of the ISS “resistome’ was conducted. Using whole genome sequencing (WGS) and disc diffusion antibiotic resistance assays, 9 biosafety level 2 organisms isolated from the ISS were assessed for their antibiotic resistance. Molecular analysis of AMR genes from 24 surface samples collected from the ISS during 3 different sampling events over a span of a year were analyzed with Ion AmpliSeq™ and metagenomics. Disc diffusion assays showed that Enterobacter bugandensis strains were resistant to all 9 antibiotics tested and Staphylococcus haemolyticus being resistant to none. Ion AmpliSeq™ revealed that 123 AMR genes were found, with those responsible for beta-lactam and trimethoprim resistance being the most abundant and widespread. Using a variety of methods, the genes involved in antimicrobial resistance have been examined for the first time from the ISS. This information could lead to mitigation strategies to maintain astronaut health during long duration space missions when return to Earth for treatment is not possible.
REFERENCE:
Urbaniak C, et al. Detection of antimicrobial resistance genes associated with the International Space Station environmental surfaces. Sci Rep. 2018; 8: 814. doi:  10.1038/s41598-017-18506-4

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Rapid deployment of a mobile biosafety level-3 laboratory in Sierra Leone during the 2014 #Ebola virus epidemic

A Mobile Biosafety Level-3 Laboratory (MBSL-3 Lab) and a well-trained diagnostic team were dispatched to Sierra Leone to assist in Ebola virus disease (EVD) diagnosis when the largest outbreak of EVD to date emerged in West Africa in 2014. This setup allowed for the diagnosis of suspected EVD cases in less than 4 hours from the time of sample receiving. The laboratory was composed of three container vehicles and was equipped with advanced ventilation system, communication system, electricity and gas supply system. Multiple safety precautions were strictly applied to reduce exposure risks. A total of 1,635 suspected EVD cases were evaluated from September 28 to November 11, 2014, and none of the staff members was infected with Ebola virus or other pathogens. The China mobile laboratory was thus instrumental in the EVD outbreak response by providing timely and accurate diagnostics. Therefore, the MBSL-3 Lab played a significant role in establishing a suitable laboratory response capacity during the emergence of EVD in Sierra Leone.

REFERENCE:
Zhang, Yi et al. “Rapid Deployment of a Mobile Biosafety Level-3 Laboratory in Sierra Leone during the 2014 Ebola Virus Epidemic.” Ed. Brian Bird. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases 11.5 (2017): e0005622. PMC. Web. 4 Jan. 2018.


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Assessing infection control practices to protect health care workers and patients

Transmission of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (TB) in health settings threatens health care workers and people living with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa. Nosocomial transmission is reduced with implementation of infection control (IC) guidelines. The objective of this study is to describe implementation of TB IC measures in Malawi. We conducted a cross-sectional study utilizing anonymous health worker questionnaires, semi-structured interviews with facility managers, and direct observations at 17 facilities in central Malawi. Of 592 health care workers surveyed, 34% reported that all patients entering the facility were screened for cough and only 8% correctly named the four most common signs and symptoms of TB in adults. Of 33 managers interviewed, 7 (21%) and 1 (3%) provided the correct TB screening questions for use in adults and children, respectively. Of 592 health workers, only 2.4% had been screened for TB in the previous year. Most (90%) reported knowing their HIV status, 53% were tested at their facility of employment, and half reported they would feel comfortable receiving ART or TB treatment at their facility of employment. We conclude that screening is infrequently conducted and knowledge gaps may undercut its effectiveness. Further, health care workers do not routinely access TB and HIV diagnostic and treatment services at their facility of employment.
REFERENCE:
Flick, Robert J. et al. “Assessing Infection Control Practices to Protect Health Care Workers and Patients in Malawi from Nosocomial Transmission of Mycobacterium Tuberculosis.” Ed. Sarah L Pett. PLoS ONE 12.12 (2017): e0189140.

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The efficacy of medical masks and respirators against respiratory infection in healthcare workers

Objective: We aimed to examine the efficacy of medical masks and respirators in protecting against respiratory infections using pooled data from two homogenous randomised control clinical trials (RCTs).
Methods: The data collected on 3591 subjects in two similar RCTs conducted in Beijing, China, which examined the same infection outcomes, were pooled. Four interventions were compared: (i) continuous N95 respirator use, (ii) targeted N95 respirator use, (iii) medical mask use and (iv) control arm. The outcomes were laboratory‐confirmed viral respiratory infection, influenza A or B, laboratory‐confirmed bacterial colonisation and pathogens grouped by mode of transmission.
Results: Rates of all outcomes were consistently lower in the continuous N95 and/or targeted N95 arms. In adjusted analysis, rates of laboratory‐confirmed bacterial colonisation (RR 0.33, 95% CI 0.21‐0.51), laboratory‐confirmed viral infections (RR 0.46, 95% CI 0.23‐0.91) and droplet‐transmitted infections (RR 0.26, 95% CI 0.16‐0.42) were significantly lower in the continuous N95 arm. Laboratory‐confirmed influenza was also lowest in the continuous N95 arm (RR 0.34, 95% CI 0.10‐1.11), but the difference was not statistically significant. Rates of laboratory‐confirmed bacterial colonisation (RR 0.54, 95% CI 0.33‐0.87) and droplet‐transmitted infections (RR 0.43, 95% CI 0.25‐0.72) were also lower in the targeted N95 arm, but not in medical mask arm.
Conclusion: The results suggest that the classification of infections into droplet versus airborne transmission is an oversimplification. Most guidelines recommend masks for infections spread by droplets. N95 respirators, as “airborne precautions,” provide superior protection for droplet‐transmitted infections. To ensure the occupational health and safety of healthcare worker, the superiority of respirators in preventing respiratory infections should be reflected in infection control guidelines.
REFERENCES: MacIntyre, Chandini Raina et al. “The Efficacy of Medical Masks and Respirators against Respiratory Infection in Healthcare Workers.” Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses 11.6 (2017): 511–517.

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Introducing Mammalian Cell Culture and Cell Viability Techniques in the Undergraduate Biology Laboratory

Undergraduate students learn about mammalian cell culture applications in introductory biology courses. However, laboratory modules are rarely designed to provide hands-on experience with mammalian cells or teach cell culture techniques, such as trypsinization and cell counting. Students are more likely to learn about cell culture using bacteria or yeast, as they are typically easier to grow, culture, and manipulate given the equipment, tools, and environment of most undergraduate biology laboratories. In contrast, the utilization of mammalian cells requires a dedicated biological safety cabinet and rigorous antiseptic techniques. For this reason, we have devised a laboratory module and method herein that familiarizes students with common cell culture procedures, without the use of a sterile hood or large cell culture facility. Students design and perform a time-efficient inquiry-based cell viability experiment using HeLa cells and tools that are readily available in an undergraduate biology laboratory. Students will become familiar with common techniques such as trypsinizing cells, cell counting with a hemocytometer, performing serial dilutions, and determining cell viability using trypan blue dye. Additionally, students will work with graphing software to analyze their data and think critically about the mechanism of death on a cellular level. Two different adaptations of this inquiry-based lab are presented—one for non-biology majors and one for biology majors. Overall, these laboratories aim to expose students to mammalian cell culture and basic techniques and help them to conceptualize their application in scientific research.

REFERENCE:
Bowey-Dellinger, Kristen et al. “Introducing Mammalian Cell Culture and Cell Viability Techniques in the Undergraduate Biology Laboratory.” Journal of Microbiology & Biology Education 18.2 (2017): 18.2.38. PMC. Web. 4 Jan. 2018.


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Biosafety and Biosecurity in European Containment Level 3 Laboratories: Focus on French Recent Progress and Essential Requirements

Even if European Union (EU) Member States are obliged to implement EU Directives 2000/54/EC on the protection of workers from risks related to exposure to biological agents at work, national biosafety regulations and practices varied from country to country. In fact, EU legislation on biological agents and genetically modified microorganisms is often not specific enough to ensure harmonization leading to difficulties in implementation for most laboratories. In the same way, biosecurity is a relatively new concept and a few EU Member States are known to have introduced national laboratory biosecurity legislation. In France, recent regulations have reinforced biosafety/biosecurity in containment level 3 (CL-3) laboratories but they concern a specific list of pathogens with no correlation in other European Members States. The objective of this review was to summarize European biosafety/biosecurity measures concerning CL-3 facilities focusing on French specificities. Essential requirements needed to preserve efficient biosafety measures when manipulating risk group 3 biological agents are highlighted. In addition, International, European and French standards related to containment laboratory planning, operation or biosafety equipment are described to clarify optimal biosafety and biosecurity requirements.

REFERENCE:
Pastorino, Boris, Xavier de Lamballerie, and Rémi Charrel. “Biosafety and Biosecurity in European Containment Level 3 Laboratories: Focus on French Recent Progress and Essential Requirements.” Frontiers in Public Health 5 (2017): 121.


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Basic Scholarship in Biosafety Is Critically Needed To Reduce Risk of Laboratory Accidents

Our firm conducted a risk/benefit assessment of “gain-of-function” research, as part of the deliberative process following a U.S. moratorium on the research (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, U.S. Government Gain-of-Function Deliberative Process and Research Funding Pause on Selected Gain-of-Function Research Involving Influenza, MERS, and SARS Viruses, 2014). Due to significant missing but theoretically acquirable data, our biosafety assessment faced limitations, and we were forced to provide a relative, instead of absolute, measure of risk (Gryphon Scientific, LLC, Risk and Benefit Analysis of Gain of Function Research, 2016). Here, we argue that many of these types of missing data represent large and stunning gaps in our knowledge of biosafety and argue that these missing data, once acquired via primary research efforts, would improve biosafety risk assessments and could be incorporated into biosafety practices to reduce risk of accidents. Governments invest billions in biological research; at least a small fraction of this support is warranted to prevent biological accidents.
REFERENCE:
Ritterson, Ryan, and Rocco Casagrande. “Basic Scholarship in Biosafety Is Critically Needed To Reduce Risk of Laboratory Accidents.” Ed. Michael J. Imperiale. mSphere 2.2 (2017): e00010–17.


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Biosafety Level 3 setup for multiphoton microscopy in vivo

Multiphoton microscopy has revealed important insights into cellular behavior in vivo. However, its application in infectious settings often encounters technical, safety and regulatory limitations that prevent its wider use with highly virulent human pathogens. Herein, we present a method that renders multiphoton microscopy in vivo compatible with biosafety level 3 regulations and present an example of its application and potential to visualize a Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection of the mouse lung.
REFERENCE:
Barlerin, D. et al. “Biosafety Level 3 Setup for Multiphoton Microscopy in Vivo.” Scientific Reports 7 (2017): 571. PMC. Web. 4 Jan. 2018.


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Non-occupational Uses of Respiratory Protection

A respirator is one method for reducing personal exposure to particulate respiratory hazards. NIOSH has been certifying respirators and conducting research on these devices for over 40 years. Along with our collaborators in government, industry, and academia, we have accumulated a wealth of knowledge on how respirators perform in workplace settings. In the last decade, respirator use by the general public has become a more frequent topic of debate as public health officials at the local, state, and federal level consider which public health and non-pharmaceutical interventions to recommend. In this blog, we have teamed with colleagues from across the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to assist state and federal public health agencies, and other safety professionals, by translating the lessons we’ve learned from respirator use at work to respirator use by the general public.
REFERENCE:
CDC. Non-occupational Uses of Respiratory Protection – What Public Health Organizations and Users Need to Know. By Ronald Shaffer et al.
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The ghosts of HeLa: How cell line misidentification contaminates the scientific literature

While problems with cell line misidentification have been known for decades, an unknown number of published papers remains in circulation reporting on the wrong cells without warning or correction. Here we attempt to make a conservative estimate of this ‘contaminated’ literature. We found 32,755 articles reporting on research with misidentified cells, in turn cited by an estimated half a million other papers. The contamination of the literature is not decreasing over time and is anything but restricted to countries in the periphery of global science. The decades-old and often contentious attempts to stop misidentification of cell lines have proven to be insufficient. The contamination of the literature calls for a fair and reasonable notification system, warning users and readers to interpret these papers with appropriate care.

REFERENCE:
Horbach SPJM, Halffman W (2017) The ghosts of HeLa: How cell line misidentification contaminates the scientific literature. PLoS ONE 12(10): e0186281. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0186281

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Ayúdanos a traducir las fichas de seguridad de microorganismos.