Abstract
Advances and research in biotechnology have applications over a wide range of areas, such as microbiology, medicine, the food industry, agriculture, genetically modified organisms, and nanotechnology, among others. However, research with pathogenic agents, such as virus, parasites, fungi, rickettsia, bacterial microorganisms, or genetic modified organisms, has generated concern because of their potential biological risk – not only for people, but also for the environment due to their unpredictable behavior. In addition, concern for biosafety is associated with the emergence of new diseases or re-emergence of diseases that were already under control. Biotechnology laboratories require biosafety measures designed to protect their staff, the population, and the environment, which may be exposed to hazardous organisms and materials. Laboratory staff training and education is essential, not only to acquire a good understanding about the direct handling of hazardous biological agents but also knowledge of the epidemiology, pathogenicity, and human susceptibility to the biological materials used in research. Biological risk can be reduced and controlled by the correct application of internationally recognized procedures such as proper microbiological techniques, proper containment apparatus, adequate facilities, protective barriers, and special training and education of laboratory workers. To avoid occupational infections, knowledge about standardized microbiological procedures and techniques and the use of containment devices, facilities, and protective barriers is necessary. Training and education about the epidemiology, pathogenicity, and biohazards of the microorganisms involved may prevent or decrease the risk. In this way, the scientific community may benefit from the lessons learned in the past to anticipate future problems.
Highlights
Health biotechnology and bioengineering have recently undergone major advances in both human and animal medicine. They involve the study and manipulation of modified living organisms, genetically modified organisms (GMOs), transgenic plants, animals or microorganisms, and the production of vaccines carried out in special laboratories with different biosafety and biosecurity levels according to the pathogenicity of the organisms under study (Mattiasson, 2013) Since
Every possible scenario of an outbreak arising through the release of a bio-hazard into the environment cannot be neglected (Nordmann, 2010)
The first safety measures in microbiology laboratories that work with pathogenic microorganisms were implemented in North America and the United Kingdom at the beginning of the 1970s
Summary
Health biotechnology and bioengineering have recently undergone major advances in both human and animal medicine They involve the study and manipulation of modified living organisms, genetically modified organisms (GMOs), transgenic plants, animals or microorganisms, and the production of vaccines carried out in special laboratories with different biosafety and biosecurity levels according to the pathogenicity of the organisms under study (Mattiasson, 2013) Since. Laboratory-acquired infections in health biotechnology microorganisms and GMOs may be harmful or pathogenic to animals and humans, the possibility of enhanced virulence through genetic manipulation or increased drug-resistance, among other routes, implies putting specific biosafety and biosecurity procedures in place. Biosafety includes all the prevention measures carried out to avoid the infection with pathogenic organisms and/or toxins and their release to the environment (OMS). The objective of this review is to highlight the main risks associated with biological investigation in laboratory, the potential laboratory-acquired infections (LAIs) by laboratory personnel, and suggested recommendations to avoid them
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