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Laboratory-associated infections and biosafety
1Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Service, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Portland, Oregon 97201, USA.
Clinical Microbiology Reviews
|July 1, 1995
Summary
Laboratory workers face risks from infectious agents, but precise risks are unknown. Implementing biosafety programs, including risk assessment and containment, is crucial for preventing laboratory-associated infections and protecting employees.
Area of Science:
- Occupational health and safety
- Infectious disease control
- Laboratory biosafety
Background:
- Approximately 500,000 US laboratory workers are exposed to infectious agents.
- Emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases like HIV, hantavirus, Hepatitis B, and tuberculosis highlight biosafety concerns.
Observation:
- The precise risk of infection for individual laboratory workers is not well-defined.
- Laboratory-associated infections (LAIs) range from asymptomatic to life-threatening.
Findings:
- Biosafety programs require thorough risk assessment, considering agent pathogenicity, transmission routes, worker factors, and facility design.
- Prevention strategies include containment of infectious agents, employee education on occupational risks, and robust employee health programs.
Implications:
- Adherence to mandated and proposed biosafety guidelines is essential for reducing occupational exposure risks.
- Effective biosafety practices protect laboratory personnel and healthcare facility employees from infectious agents.
- Proactive risk management is key to mitigating the impact of LAIs in research and clinical settings.