Bio Hazard Terms

American Biological Safety Association (ABSA)

was founded in 1984 to promote bio-safety as a scientific discipline and serve the growing needs of bio-safety professionals throughout the world. The Association's goals are to provide a professional association that represents the interests and needs of practitioners of biological safety, and to provide a forum for the continued and timely exchange of bio-safety information.

Biohazard

A biological agent, such as an infectious microorganism, or a condition that constitutes a threat to humans, especially in biological research or experimentation.

The potential danger, risk, or harm from exposure to such an agent or condition.

Hazard to humans or the environment resulting from biological agents or conditions.

Any bacterium or virus or toxin that could be used in biological warfare.

Biohazard Control

procedures, facilities, programs and equipment for containing hazardous biologic agents by way of physical and biological barriers; physical containment involves the use of special equipment, facilities, and procedures to prevent the escape of the agent.

Bio-safety or biohazard control is a team effort Bio-safety or biohazard control is a team effort involving the PI, research lab personnel, BSO, involving the PI, research lab personnel, BSO, IBC, IRB, IACUC, EHS, PP and PS.

Biohazard Control, Decontamination, Cleanup, and Restoration Dealing with what others don't, or can't handle.

Related Terms, bioterrorism /chemical warfare, environmental protection.

Biohazard Detection

Testing for the presence of harmful chemical or biological agents; includes intentional (bio or chemical warfare) or accidental, as well as laboratory accidents with hazardous items.

Health Hazard

Hazard to the health of those exposed to it.

A source of danger; a possibility of incurring loss or misfortune; "drinking alcohol is a health hazard".

MRSA

Methicilin-resistant Staphylococus aureus - MRSA = a type of bacteria that is resistant to certain antibiotics. Methicillin and other more common antibiotics such as Oxacillin, Penicillin and Amoxicillin. Staph infections,

Healthcare-associated MRSA

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a type of bacteria that is resistant to certain antibiotics. These antibiotics include methicillin and other more common antibiotics such as oxacillin, penicillin and amoxicillin. Staph infections, including MRSA, occur most frequently among persons in hospitals and healthcare facilities (such as nursing homes and dialysis centers) who have weakened immune systems. ,

Community-Associated MRSA

MRSA infections that are acquired by persons who have not been recently (within the past year) hospitalized or had a medical procedure (such as dialysis, surgery, catheters) are known as CA-MRSA infections. Staph or MRSA infections in the community are usually manifested as skin infections, such as pimples and boils, and other pus-filled lesions. Occur in otherwise healthy people.

Staphylococcus aureus

literally the "golden cluster seed" or "the seed gold" and also known as golden staph) is the most common cause of staph infections. It is a spherical bacterium, frequently found in the nose and skin of a person. About 20% of the population are long-term carriers of S. aureus.[1] S. aureus can cause a range of illnesses from minor skin infections, such as pimples, impetigo (may also be caused by Streptococcus pyogenes), boils, cellulitis folliculitis, furuncles, carbuncles, scalded skin syndrome and abscesses, to life-threatening diseases such as pneumonia, meningitis, osteomyelitis endocarditis, Toxic shock syndrome (TSS), and septicemia. Its incidence is from skin, soft tissue, respiratory, bone, joint, endovascular to wound infections. It is still one of the four most common causes of nosocomial infections, often causing postsurgical wound infections. Abbreviated to S. aureus or Staph aureus in medical literature, S. aureus should not be confused with the similarly named (and also medically relevant) species of the genus Streptococcus .

Infection control Spread of S. aureus (including MRSA) is through human-to-human contact, although recently some vets have discovered that the infection can be spread through pets, with environmental contamination thought to play a relatively unimportant part. Emphasis on basic hand washing techniques are therefore effective in preventing the transmission of S. aureus. The use of disposable aprons and gloves by staff reduces skin-to-skin contact and therefore further reduces the risk of transmission. Please refer to the article on infection control for further details. Recently, there have been a myriad of reported cases of S. aureus in hospitals across America. The pathogen has had facilitated transportation in medical facilities mainly because of insufficient healthcare worker hygiene. S. aureus is an incredibly hardy bacterium, as was shown in a study where it survived on a piece of polyester for just under three months, polyester being the main material used in hospital privacy curtains. The bacterium is able to transport itself on the hands of healthcare workers who, for instance, get the bacteria from a seemingly healthy patient carrying a "benign" or commensal strain of the pathogen and then pass it on to the next patient being cared for. Introduction of the bacterium into the bloodstream can lead to various complications including, but not limited to, endocarditis, meningitis, and, if it is widespread, sepsis - toxins infecting the entire body. Because of these infections in hospitals, as of February 14th, 2008, all California medical facilities must now report S. aureus infections that are checked into the hospitals, in the hope of starting a trend to aid disease trackers and pathologists in their search for a cure Alcohol has proven to be an effective topical sanitizer against MRSA. Quaternary ammonium can be used in conjunction with alcohol to increase the duration of the sanitizing action. The prevention of nosocomial infections involve routine and terminal cleaning. Nonflammable alcohol vapor in CO2 NAV-CO2 systems have an advantage as they do not attack metals or plastics used in medical environments, and do not contribute to antibacterial resistance. An important and previously unrecognized means of community-associated methicillin-resistant S. aureus colonization and transmission is during sexual contact. Staff or patients who are found to carry resistant strains of S. aureus may be required to undergo "eradication therapy" which may include antiseptic washes and shampoos (such as chlorhexidine) and application of topical antibiotic ointments (such as mupirocin or neomycin) to the anterior nares of the nose. In March 2007, the BBC reported that a vaporizer spraying some essential oils into the atmosphere reduced airborne bacterial counts by 90% and kept MRSA infections at bay and may hold promise in MRSA infection control.

 

 

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Financial Assistance for Cleaning Bio Hazards
----> Financial Assistance for Cleaning Bio Hazards

Bio Hazardous Terms
----> See bio hazardous terms

Dangers of blood exposure
----> Hazards of Blood