MICR5832 L1: Introduction and Classification of Pathogens 7/22/25

What Risk Group is this?

-Low individual and community risk

-A microorganism that is unlikely to cause human, plant or animal disease.

Group 1

What Risk Group is this?

-Moderate individual risk, limited community risk

-A pathogen that can cause human, animal or plant disease but is unlikely to be a serious hazard to laboratory workers, the community, livestock or the environment

-Laboratory exposures may cause infection, but effective treatment and preventive measures are available and the risk of spread is limited.

Group 2

What Risk Group is this?

-High individual risk, limited community risk

-A pathogen that usually causes serious human or animal disease and may present a serious hazard to laboratory workers

-It could present a risk if spread in the community or the environment, but there are usually effective preventive measures or treatment available.

Group 3

Which Risk Group is this?

-High individual and community risk

-A pathogen that usually produces life-threatening human or animal disease represents a serious hazard to laboratory workers and is readily transmissible from one individual to another

-Effective treatment and preventive measures are not usually available.

Group 4

True or False: In BSL-1, the laboratory can be open to general traffic

True

True or False: In BSL-1, work is usually conducted on open benches and can be left in the open

True

What are some measures you would use in a BSL-1 laboratory?

-Use disinfectants/wipes (low level decontamination)

-Separate samples and waste

-Wear lab coats, gloves and wash hands

What BSL is this?

-Laboratory can be open to general traffic in building

-Work generally conducted on open benches

-Contaminated material can be left in open

-Decontamination low, i.e. use disinfectants and wipes

-Still treat material with care

-Separate samples and waste

-Wear gloves, lab coat and wash hands

-Non pathogenic E. coli, commensals

BSL-1

What BSL is this?

-Organisms of moderate potential hazard to health

-Laboratory personnel need specific training

-Access to laboratory is limited

BSL-2

What are some measures you would use in a BSL-2 laboratory?

-Extreme caution with sharps, wash hands

-Biosafety hoods for aerosols/pathogens

-PPE such as gloves, lab coats, goggles

True or False: You do not need negative in a BSL-2 laboratory, only BSL-3 and above

False

What is a recent change to airflow in BSL-2 laboratories?

Negative pressure is required

What BSL is this?

-Extreme precautions are taken with contaminated sharps

-Procedures with potential aerosols or pathogens undertaken in biosafety hoods

-Recent changes to airflow required, -ve pressure

-Infectious waste is bagged and autoclaved

-Must wear protective equipment such as gloves, lab coats, protective glasses and wash hands. Remove gloves before leaving.

-E.g. Clostridium difficile, staphylococcus, influenza, dengue virus

BSL-2

What BSL is this?

-Organisms that can cause serious or fatal disease or exotic agents where treatments exist

-Laboratory personnel need specific training

-Access to laboratory is strictly limited

BSL-3

Which minimum BSL level requires two levels of access/identification?

BSL-3

What are some facilities differences that set apart a BSL-3 laboratory?

-Double door/ante room

-Records of use and entry

-Room is sealed from the external environment

What are some measures you might use in a BSL-3 laboratory?

-HEPA filtered class III biosafety hoods

-Autoclaved/disposable clothing

-Bag and autoclave waste within facility

-Negative pressure airflow

True or False: When you leave a BSL-3 facility, your lab gowns must be professionally washed before they can be reworn

False, all clothing is autoclaved or disposable

What BSL is this?

-Organisms that can cause serious or fatal disease or exotic agents where treatments exist

-Laboratory personnel need specific training in handling serious pathogens

-Access to laboratory is strictly limited, need 2 levels of access/identification

-Double door access/ante room, records of use and entry recorded

-Extreme precautions are required for handling specimens in biosafety cabinets

-Specific HEPA filtered class III biosafety hoods

-Room is sealed from external environment

-Laboratory and ante room under -ve pressure for directional airflow

-Infectious waste is bagged and autoclaved within facility

-Must wear protective clothing that is autoclaved or disposable.

o E.g. SARS coronavirus, rabies virus, yersinia pestis

BSL-3

What BSL is this?

-Organisms that are dangerous or exotic with limited or no treatments or vaccines

-Laboratory personnel need extensive training and expertise

-Access to laboratory is strictly controlled and monitored

BSL-4

What sets BSL-4 facilities apart from other laboratories?

-Separate entrance/exit room

-Vacuum room, UV light room, multiple showers

-Sealed environment, controlled airlocks

-HEPA filtered biosafety hoods, class III cabinets

What measures would you use in a BSL-4 laboratory?

-Positive pressure suit, separate air supply

-All water/air must be decontaminated

-Bomb to remotely clean the area?!

What BSL is this?

-Organisms that are dangerous or exotic with limited or no treatments or vaccines

-Laboratory personnel need extensive training and expertise

-Access to laboratory is strictly controlled and monitored

-Separate entrance/exit room with multiple showers, vacuum room, UV light room

-Sealed environment, entry and exit controlled by airlocks with controlled opening

-Extreme precautions are required for handling specimens in class III biosafety cabinets

-Specific HEPA filtered biosafety hoods

-All water and air in and out of laboratory is decontaminated

-Infectious waste is bagged and autoclaved within facility

-Must wear positive pressure suit with separate air supply.

-Ebola virus, Lassa virus, small pox

BSL-4

Which Tier of the SSBA is this?

-Anthrax, Foot and mouth, Marbugvirus, SARS, smallpox, Ebola, Rindepest, Ricin, Botulinum toxin

Tier 1 Agents (Highest security risk)

Which Tier of the SSBA is this?

-Swine fever, sheep pox, Tularaemia, lumpy skin virus, salmonella typhi, yellow fever, cholera

Tier 2 Agents (High security risk)

How soon should you notify the Health department?

-Brucella, Anthrax, cholera, Dengue, Hepatitis, HIV, Influenza, Leprosy, palgue, mumps, measles, rabies, TB

Within days

How soon should you notify the agricultural authorities department of these animal pathogens?

-Brucella, Anthrax, Hendra virus, Foot and Mouth disease, Leishmaniasis, Chagas, trypanosomiasis

Immediately

Which diseases are zoonoses that are notifiable in animals but not humans?

-Leishmania

-Chagas disease

-Trypanosomiasis

What BSL are non-pathogenic E. coli and commensals?

BSL-1

What BSL are Ebola, Lassa virus and smallpox?

BSL-4

What BSL are SARS coronavirus, rabies and yersinia pestis (Black death)?

BSL-3

What BSL are C. diff, staphylococcus, influenza and dengue?

BSL-2

In regard to microbial biosafety SSBA is an acronym for:

A. Safety and Security of Bioterrorism Agents

B. Security Sensitive Biological Agents

C. Safety for Sensitive Bioterrorism Agents

D. Selective Secure Biological Area

B. Security Sensitive Biological Agents

Which one of these regulations is NOT TRUE for a BSL3/PC3 biosafety level facility?

A. Users must wear a positive pressure suit with separate air supply

B. There must be 2 levels of access and identification

C. All infectious waste is bagged and autoclaves within the facility

D. Must have double door access with an ante room and negatively pressurized airflow

A. Users must wear a positive pressure suit with separate air supply

Describe the procedures that have to be undertaken in a BSL4 laboratory

-All water and air in and out of laboratory is decontaminated

-Infectious waste is bagged and autoclaved within facility

-Must wear positive pressure suit with separate air supply

-Exit requires using vacuum room/UV light room/showers and separate exit with airlock

-Handles Ebola, Lassa virus and smallpox

Why is Burkholderia pseudomallei considered PC2 in Australia and PC3 in the UK?

-Endemic to Aus

-Not endemic to the UK, more dangerous

Why is Mycobacterium leprae sometimes PC2 and sometimes PC3?

-Transmission is very slow

-Hard to control

Name an example of a Tier 2 agent that was once used as a vaccine vehicle but not anymore due to high security risk

Salmeonella typhi

What are some requirements for a pathogen that is banned from WA?

-Import permit

-Quarantine facility

-6 month inspections

-Strict monitoring and use

Which BSL facility would you use a positive pressure suit + separate air supply for?

BSL-4