Biohazards agents

Rowe-Taitt C.A., Hazzard J.W., Hoffman K.E., Cras J.J., Golden J.P., Ligler F.S., Simultaneous detection of six biohazardous agents using a planar waveguide array biosensor, Biosensors and Bioelectronics 2000 15 579-589. 

C. A. Rowe-Taitt, 1. W. Hazzard, K. E. Hoffman, 1.1. Cras, 1. P. Golden, and F. S. Ligler, "Simultaneous Detection of Six Biohazardous Agents Using a Planar Waveguide Array Biosensors," Biosensors Bioelectronics 15, 579-589 (2000). 

Evans MR, Henderson DK, Bennett JE. Potential for laboratory exposures to biohazardous agents found in blood. Am J Public Health 1990 80 423-7. 

The area, operating complex, facility, room in a facility, etc., in which work has been or is being performed with biohazard agents or materials. 

A set of equipment and procedures used to prevent or minimize the exposure of humans and their environment to biohazardous agents or materials. 

Some biohazard agents occur in certain geographic locations. Physicians in one country may not learn about or gain medical experience with infectious diseases from... 

Much like chemicals, biohazard agents may enter the body through ingestion, inhalation, and skin contact. The potential for skin entry increases when there are wounds. 

Laboratories involved with infectious agents have significant biohazards. HHS offers recommendations for work with biohazard agents (see note 4). The recommendations help when assessing risk and preventing infections in other activities. 

TABLE 26-2 Classification of Biohazardous Agents by Risk Group ... 

Robotics Another control to reduce dangers of contact with biohazards is the use of robotics for analysis and processing of biological samples. A robot placed in an enclosure can perform many functions. The robot can reduce human handling and potential contacts by humans with biohazard agents. Automatic or manual controls operated from outside the enclosure direct the robot s actions. Some robots are designed especially for processing biohazards. 

Pedrero, M Campuzano, S. and Pingarron, J.M. (2012) Magnetic beads based electrochemical sensors applied to the detection and quantification of bioterrorism/ biohazard agents. Electroanalysis, 24,470-482. 

According to the AIHA Biohazards Committee, a biohazardous agent is one that is biological in nature, capable of self-repHcation and has the capacity to produce deleterious effects upon other biological organisms, particularly humans (AIHA 1986). The four broad classes of microorganisms that can interact with humans are bacteria, fungi, viruses, and protozoan parasites. 

Before and after injection of an animal with a biohazardous agent, swab the site of injection with a disinfectant (209). 

Disposable clothing that has been used with nonhazardous agents should be discarded into a closed container with other noncontami-nated laboratory waste materials and discarded. Disposable clothing that has been used with biohazardous agents or in the containment facility should be placed in a closed container and subsequently autoclaved prior to being discarded (see Chapter 7 for further information on waste disposal). Again, if it has been overtly contaminated, it should be soaked with a disinfectant and autoclaved immediately. 

Every effort should be made to limit the number of books and journals taken into biohazardous areas. Books and journals should not be brought into laboratory rooms where biohazardous agents are being used. Before removal of books or journals from a biohazardous area, appropriate decontamination should be accomplished if necessary. Books on loan from outside libraries should never be taken into biohazardous areas (462, 479). 

For vacuums used in areas where biohazardous agents are found, it is a good idea to perform periodic disinfection of the entire vacuum cleaner with formaldehyde gas or vapor. Use of this procedure must be carefully evaluated, since formaldehyde itself is hazardous (see Section 5.7). In particular, the vacuum should be decontaminated if it is used... 

Solid and liquid disinfectants are the most common and familiar chemicals used for decontamination of surfaces and objects used with biohazardous agents. Liquid disinfectants are generally used after dilution, but for some applications, the concentrated material may be used. Solids must be mixed with a liquid before use and therefore are included in the following discussion about liquid disinfectants. In this section, we will consider the uses of these chemicals, their properties, and their hazards. 

Physical containment of biohazards is achieved through the use of primary and secondary barriers. Primary barriers, the first line of defense against the release of a biohazardous agent, are the measures used to contain the experimental material, and include both techniques and equipment. In the context of this chapter, however, they refer to the use of items of equipment, particularly safety cabinets. Primary barriers are used to provide physical separation of the worker and experimental materials to prevent injury to the worker, provide physical separation of the experimental work from the environment to prevent contamination of the work, and control the release of aerosols created by the work which could pose a hazard for the researcher. 

Finally, building vacuum systems must have liquid traps designed to prevent biohazardous agents from contaminating the vacuum lines and pumps. Such traps should be fail-safe, shutting off the vacuum before liquid enters the building system. A device similar to the lower illustration in Figure 1.7 can be used. 

The basic facility usually consists of a general laboratory with certain design features and operational practices intended to limit the possibility of exposure to and release of biohazardous agents. However, no containment equipment is required and specialized ventilation systems are unnecessary. The facility must be checked to be certain that it does indeed provide for sufficient control and containment of any agent to be used. 

A typical partial containment facility is a specially engineered laboratory designed to handle moderately hazardous materials without unnecessary exposure or release of biohazardous agents. Various government agencies have published specific guidelines for... 

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