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Hazards of Laboratory Techniques

	Hazards of Laboratory Techniques - Infection of laboratory workers is a common problem while handling microorganisms. And in most of these cases finding out the source of infection is very difficult. The problem is very severe in clinical microbiology laboratories where the microorganisms being handled are mostly pathogenic, although other research and development laboratories experience a similar problem. The most common microorganisms causing laboratory acquired infections are Brucella abortus, B. melitensis, Pasteurella tularensis and Salmonella typhosa (Salle, 1974).
According to a survey conducted in 1978, the top ten laboratory acquired infections include brucellosis, Q fever, hepatitis, typhoid fever, tularaemia, tuberculosis, dermatomycosis, Venezulan equine encephalitis, psittacosis and coccidioidomycosis. Of these tuberculosis is becoming a serious hazard to laboratory workers especially in mortuary and post mortem workers and in microbiology technicians. Infection is mainly due to the inhalation of aerosols generated during the work.
Three possible routes have been suggested to be responsible for laboratory acquired infections (Fallon & Gnst, 1989). Inoculation accidental introduction of infection into the body. Examples of this type include introduction of infection into the eye by splashing, into the body tissues through a needle injury, incision with a sharp instrument or broken glass etc. Ingestion - infection through oral route. This includes accidental swallowing of infective material as in the case of mouth pippeting of cultures. Inhalation of aerosols or dust articles containing pathogenic microorganism is the third possible route. Among the three it is the most hazardous one.
Aerosols may be generated by any action that breaks the continuity of the surface of a liquid, such as withdrawal of loop from broth culture. These aerosol particles upon drying may become infectious dust. Usually spilt culture fluid on a table or bench dries out and when disturbed by actions like cleaning, becomes airborne infective dust.

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Air Microbiology Part 3 Diptheria Tuberculosis Legionellosis Airborne Fungal Diseases Cryptococcosis Blastomycosis Coccidiodomycosis Histoplasmosis Aspergillosis Airborne Viral Diseases Common Cold Influenza Measles Mumps Adenoviral Diseases Hazards of Laboratory Techniques Hazardous Procedures Hazard Groups Group 1 Organism Group 2 Organism

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