Biosafety In Microbiological Research Articles

Comparative Analysis of Biosafety Guidelines of the USA, WHO, and Russia (Organizational and Controlling, Medical and Sanitary—Antiepidemiological Aspects)

Carrying out research for the purpose of prophylactic medicine with dangerous, highly infectious causative agents of disease requires appropriate safety conditions. In addition, the need for appropriate biological safety and security considerations is acquiring an ever-growing national and international importance given the existing threat of the use of these agents by terrorists. Because of these facts, the harmonization of national safety guidelines regulating the organization and work with Hazard Group I-IV pathogens in different countries is gaining more importance and relevance. This paper presents a comparative analysis of safety guidelines and regulations from the United States contained in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-National Institutes of Health Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories (BMBL), the World Health Organization Laboratory Biosafety Manual (WHO LBM) and Russia's Sanitary Rules (SRs).

Designing the BSL4 Laboratory (Chapter 9)

This chapter will discuss the design issues of Biosafety Level 4 (BSL4) suit laboratories. It will review the requirements of “Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories” (BMBL) (USDHHS, 1993), including revisions proposed for the 4th edition, in greater detail and give the rationale behind some of the requirements of laboratories at this level. The chapter will also detail issues related to layout and how this impacts operation with a comparative review of contemporary facilities.

Basic Considerations in Assessing and Preventing Occupational Infections in Personnel Working With Nonhuman Primates

Transmission of zoonotic infections of nonhuman primates to human contacts is a documented occupational hazard. Although the list of naturally occurring and experimentally induced infections of nonhuman primates is extensive the risks of transmission may substantially be reduced by the use of good animal care practices, appropriate protective measures and devices, and suitable animal facilities. The essential elements of good animal care practices include high levels of personal hygiene; minimizing the creation of potentially infectious aerosols and droplets; use of personal protective clothing, devices, and vaccines; a system for reporting, evaluating, and treatment of occupational exposures and infections; and animal facilities appropriate for the species being used and the activities conducted. These essential elements are described and discussed in the context of published voluntary codes of practice--notably "Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories."