Biosafety Principles Research Articles

Point-of-Care Testing Biosafety Decisions: An Investigation Summary Illustrating Current Decision-Making Process in Ontario, Canada.

Point-of-care testing (POCT) is increasingly being used in healthcare, including hospitals, and POCT-style tests are also used within some laboratories. The principles of biosafety, including risk assessment and containment of biohazardous agents, can be utilized as a foundation to establish policies and procedures guiding safe performance of POCT. However, specific biosafety guidelines for POCT are generally lacking, particularly for those performed outside laboratories by healthcare workers. This study aims to explore POCT biosafety program decision-making infrastructure and oversight in Ontario. The Institute of Quality Management in Healthcare distributed a survey to 249 laboratories in Ontario. There were 11 questions on POCT biosafety practices. The survey had a high response rate of 88.7%. How POCT biosafety decisions were made was variable among respondents. For POCT-style tests conducted within laboratories, the biosafety officer (BSO) and/or the microbiologist were involved in biosafety decisions in 95% of microbiology labs or 55% of other labs. Only 27% of the respondents reported that biosafety decisions were made by BSOs and/or microbiologists when POCT was conducted outside the laboratory. When POCT is performed outside the laboratory, biosafety decisions were made largely by Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) and POCT laboratory staff. Similarly, training and auditing of staff who perform POCT were mainly done by IPAC and POCT laboratory staff. The survey showed that a wide variety of POCT was being conducted for COVID-19 patients during the pandemic.

Knowledge and practices of biosecurity measures in the students of the last year of the Nursing Career of an Ecuadorian university

Introduction: Biosafety is currently the pillar where risk prevention converges, adopted not only by health teams, but also by the general population. Objective: To determine the level of knowledge and practice of biosafety measures among students in the last year of the nursing career at a public university in Quito, Ecuador. Methodology: A cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out, with a population of 140 students of the rotating internship of the Nursing career. Data were obtained relating the variables: knowledge of biosafety standards of rotating interns and the places where they performed their pre-professional internships, with a confidence level of 95%, considering p < 0.05 as significant, a previously validated and structured questionnaire was applied with 16 questions validated with a Cronbach's Alpha of 0.85, which covered the principles of biosafety. Results: it was evidenced that 100% of the students knew the hand washing procedure; 86% knew about the knowledge, norms, and principles of biosafety; with respect to waste management, only 76% were clear about the procedure; 54% knew how to proceed with the treatment of contaminated material. Regarding the use of personal protective equipment (PPE), 91% of the students used the surgical mask as protection in the places of practice and only 39% used the N95 respirator. The vaccination used before performing their practices it was evidenced that 100% of the participants had the COVID- 19 vaccine, followed by the Hepatitis B vaccine with 94%, the Diphtheria and Tetanus vaccine was used in 91% and 70% the influenza vaccine. Conclusions: It could be determined that biosafety knowledge was high in the evaluated students, on the other hand, biosafety practices, the use of personal protective equipment (PPE), depend on the complexity and level of care where the practices were performed, more emphasis should be made regarding waste management and treatment of contaminated material. In health careers, the evaluation of adherence to biosafety practices is of vital importance.

Biosafety knowledge and perception among medical laboratory students: a cross-sectional study at a medical university in Vietnam

Introduction: Medical students have to deal with biohazards in laboratories during undergraduate studies and intensive practice in hospitals. Unsafe operators can result in an outbreak of biohazardous pathogens to healthcare workers, the community, and the environment. However, the most common risk factors for laboratory accidents are a lack of perception and knowledge of biosafety and laboratory safety management. This study aimed to assess knowledge and factors influencing the biosafety practices of medical students at Hanoi Public Health University, Vietnam Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted to assess the biosafety knowledge of all 286 students majoring in a medical laboratory at HUPH from December 2021 to February 2022. Ethical clearance was obtained from the Ethics Committee of Hanoi University of Public Health. The questionnaire has been created based on WHO biosafety guidelines with some modifications according to the local context. The data were collected by face-to-face interviews Results:: Out of the 286 students invited to complete a biosafety questionnaire, 68.6% of students recognized the fundamental principles of biosafety. Additionally, 76.2% and 91% of students correctly identified risk factors and danger signs in the laboratory, respectively. Furthermore, 79.8% of students provided accurate answers to biosafety laboratory troubleshooting questions. Notably, academic performance, students’ year of study, and average scores in biosafety courses had significantly related to the biosafety knowledge. Gender factors and academic performance were related to the rate of obtaining precise knowledge about incident handling and preventing risk factors in the laboratory. Conclusion: The passed rate of biosafety knowledge among medical laboratory students at the University of Public Health was 68.6%. Factors such as the student's school year, academic performance, average score in the biosafety course number of internships in hospitals significantly affected their biosafety and troubleshooting knowledge in the laboratory.

Main Risks in Dentistry for Violating the Principles of Biosafety

Main Risks in Dentistry for Violating the Principles of Biosafety

Arıcılıkta Biyogüvenlik ve İyi Arıcılık Uygulamaları

Biosecurity measures in beekeeping (BMBs) include measures taken to prevent the spread of diseases by minimizing the movement of microorganisms and pests in the apiary, preventing diseases and pests in the environment from reaching the apiary or reducing their effects. Biosafety principles aim to prevent infectious factors from entering the apiaries and spreading by humans, bees, feed, and technological systems in order to prevent them from adversely affecting bee health or honey quality. Good beekeeping practices (GBP) prevent or minimize the entry of important bee diseases and pests into the apiary and the spread between colonies and apiaries. Prevents negative effects on bee health, honey safety, honey quality, and production efficiency. BMBs can be effective if GBPs are implemented. In this study, it is aimed to provide information about bee health, protection from bee diseases, preventing the spread of diseases and pests among other colonies and apiaries in the same apiary, biosecurity and good beekeeping practices necessary to obtain quality and reliable bee products.

ФОРМУВАННЯ ДОСВІДУ ПРОТИДІЇ ВИКЛИКАМ ВІРУСНОЇ ІНФЕКЦІЇ ЗА ДОПОМОГОЮ ВИКОРИСТАННЯ СЕРЕД СТУДЕНТІВ ЗНАНЬ БІОБЕЗПЕЧНИХ ТЕХНОЛОГІЙ Частина 2

New challenges and the state of development of COVID-19 in connection with the spread of new strains of SARS-CoV-2 have been analyzed. Experience and knowledge in working with new means of protection of different types of vaccines are studied: both classic, based on inactivated virus or its fragment, and the new generation – with vector and genetic mRNA vaccines, as well as effective antiviral drugs. Biorisks and compliance with biosafety principles have been studied. The replenishment of the base of competencies for biotechnologists and pharmacists in the context of distance learning and response to the pandemic is considered. The new data were used to introduce and deepen knowledge about the new generation of vaccines and the dangers of dual use of experimental data in the development of new components of educational programs in "Biotechnology and Bioengineering" and “Pharmacy, Industrial Pharmacy”.

ФОРМУВАННЯ ДОСВІДУ ПРОТИДІЇ ВИКЛИКАМ ВІРУСНОЇ ІНФЕКЦІЇ ЗА ДОПОМОГОЮ ВИКОРИСТАННЯ СЕРЕД СТУДЕНТІВ ЗНАНЬ БІОБЕЗПЕЧНИХ ТЕХНОЛОГІЙ Частина 2

New challenges and the state of development of COVID-19 in connection with the spread of new strains of SARS-CoV-2 have been analyzed. Experience and knowledge in working with new means of protection of different types of vaccines are studied: both classic, based on inactivated virus or its fragment, and the new generation – with vector and genetic mRNA vaccines, as well as effective antiviral drugs. Biorisks and compliance with biosafety principles have been studied. The replenishment of the base of competencies for biotechnologists and pharmacists in the context of distance learning and response to the pandemic is considered. The new data were used to introduce and deepen knowledge about the new generation of vaccines and the dangers of dual use of experimental data in the development of new components of educational programs in "Biotechnology and Bioengineering" and “Pharmacy, Industrial Pharmacy”.

Pathomorphological changes in the organs of chickens infected spontaneously by the species Salmonella pullorum on private farms in Chernivtsi region

Commercial poultry production growth and the increase in the number of small farms specializing in raising broiler chickens, laying hens, quails, and other poultry contribute to the spread of infectious diseases. Non-compliance with the principles of biosafety during incubation and breeding results in mass deaths of poultry and, consequently, significant economic losses for farmers. Salmonellosis is one of the most dangerous anthropozoonotic diseases of poultry, which is most often registered in private farms. Age analysis of the poultry salmonellosis in the EU countries indicates the infection of adult laying hens most often, young poultry to a lesser extent, and chickens aged up to 10 days less frequently. Although the program for the prevention and elimination of poultry salmonellosis has been approved at the legislative level in Ukraine, monitoring studies are not carefully conducted. This is especially true for private homesteads and small farms, which greatly complicates the epizootiological situation in some regions of the country. The article describes the pathological and histological changes in the liver, heart, lungs, kidneys, and spleen. The changes were detected in chickens aged 10 and 14 days infected with microorganisms of the species Salmonella pullorum. Eggs for incubation were obtained from different family flocks, and incubation was performed in a single incubator. The initial clinical signs of the disease appeared in chickens aged 7 days and included diarrhea, increased water consumption, lameness, mass concentration of chickens near heat sources, nervous phenomena in the form of circle walking, and partial blindness in some cases. The pathological autopsy revealed hepatomegaly with sharp change in the organ colour, diapedetic hemorrhage under Glisson’s capsule, and diffuse miliary necrosis. Greyish-white nodular lesions of the lungs and heart, dystrophic changes in the kidneys, and deposition of uric acid salts in the ureters were also characteristic features. Diffuse coagulation necrosis, massive perivascular infiltration by heterophilic lymphocytes and stasis were observed in the liver. Changes in the heart were characterized by significant infiltration by mononuclear cells and heterophiles, which led to atrophy, necrosis, and replacement of cardiomyocytes by connective tissue cellular elements. Delymphatization and necrosis of the lymph nodes were pronounced in the spleen.

Strengthening Medical Laboratory Systems in Kenya: An Innovative Biosafety Training Model.

Background: With increased rates of laboratory-acquired infections from clinical and research laboratories globally, efforts have been made to improve awareness of modern practices and pursue innovations in biosafety to manage risks and laboratory exposures arising from infectious agents and other hazards. Objectives: This article demonstrates a sustainable biosafety training model developed to enhance laboratory quality and support accreditation in health facilities in Kenya. Methods: A biosafety technical working group was formed, and sensitization meetings held with health managers. Trainings were then conducted for training of trainers (TOTs) who then cascaded trainings in health facilities. This was followed by mentorships and monitoring for implementation. Results: Five sensitization meetings were carried out for 264 health managers. TOTs was done for 48 trained trainers and 1044 laboratory workers in 216 facilities covering 44 counties. Site visits were done in 51 facilities, with biosafety achievements measured in 21 (41%), respectively. Achievements in 21 facilities included the following: improvised eye wash stations in 16 facilities (76%), biological spill kits in 17 (81%), buckets of sand in 15 (71%), fire extinguishers in 12 (57%), hepatitis B vaccination in 14 (66%), establishment of phlebotomy areas in 18 facilities (85%), material safety data sheets in 18 (85%), documentation of incidents and exposures in 16 (76%), and proper waste segregation in 17 (81%). Conclusion: This model ensured rapid scale-up to multiple counties and enabled learners to understand biosafety principles. Due to management buy-in, resources were availed to implement interventions, and this was demonstrated by remarkable achievements across all assessed facilities.

PROFILE OF INPATIENTS EVALUATED BY THE DENTAL TEAM IN A HOSPITAL UNIT

Objective: To verify the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of the inpatients evaluated by the dental team in a university hospital. Study Design: Clinical and demographic data were collected from medical records and oral data from routine exams of inpatients of different specialties. Dental visits are performed weekly at different wards for patients who would be willing to receive oral care. The intraoral examinations were performed at bedside with a frontal light, respecting principles of biosafety and oral semiology. Data were stored in an electronic database for analysis. Results: There were 226 patients included in the analysis. The median age was 54.57 ± 16.4 years, and there were 53.1% males and 87.2% non-whites. Most of the patients presented with kidney disease (53.4%), gastrointestinal problems (27.5%), or diabetes (23.8%). The most common oral conditions were dry lips (60.9%), depapillated tongue (7.9%), candidiasis (4.0%), and leukoplasia (2.6%). Besides oral exams, other oral procedures performed were scalings (18.5%), dental fillings (18.5%), and exodontias (10.3%). Conclusion: This study shows information about the demographic and clinical profile and the oral status of hospitalized patients. Prospective studies should be performed to investigate if oral care may reduce the period of hospitalization and complications of the underlying disease.

Reflections on biosafety in acupuncture.

Acupuncture is an integrative and complementary practice for which biosafety standards are essential. To elicit a reflection on biosafety in acupuncture to reduce occupational hazards associated with infection as adverse effect for both provider and patient. The present theoretical essay is grounded on references intentionally selected from June through October 2019. Infection is the adverse effect most frequently reported for acupuncture practice, which involves considerable risk of microorganism inoculation. Provider awareness should be raised to comply with biosafety principles and thus ensure their and patient safety without any negative implications for the effectiveness of treatment. We recommended providers to adopt universal biosafety practices during acupuncture procedures.

ГОТОВНІСТЬ ДО ВИКЛИКІВ ВІРУСНОЇ ІНФЕКЦІЇ ТА ЗАСТОСУВАННЯ СТУДЕНТАМИ ЗНАНЬ БІОБЕЗПЕЧНИХ ТЕХНОЛОГІЙ

The state of development of the disease on COVID-19 is analyzed, the need to comply with the principles of biosafety, competency base, which provide training for biotechnology and pharmaceuticals to create new effective drugs, including antiviral drugs, is emphasized. Introduction and deepening of knowledge of the principles of biosafety and biosecurity, the use of molecular

Application of Biosafety Principles in Laboratory Analysis of Clinical Samples from Patients with COVID-19.

COVID-19 poses a great challenge to clinical and diagnostic services around the world. The need of biosafety practices can never be emphasised more than under current circumstances. The four pillars of biosafety namely, leadership, standard operating procedures, personal protective equipment (PPE) and engineering controls must be employed for effective and safe practices in the clinical setting in general and laboratory settings in particular. Risk assessment must be carried out before meeting up the diagnostic challenge for COVID-19 and essential biorisk management measures are required to be taken. In our resource-poor settings, we need to adapt safe but cost-effective and improvised solutions to ensure safe handling of clinical samples from COVID-19 patients in the laboratories. The correct use of PPE and their suitable alternatives are available for selection and use. Disinfection of the lab areas and safe disposal of the clinical samples from such patients is also of paramount importance.

Occupational health and safety: educational intervention for cleaning workers in research sectors

To evaluate the results of educational interven- tion on health and safety regarding principles of biosafety in cleaning workers of a health institution. Using concurrent mixed methods, we evaluated a total of 31 workers on their knowledge, attitudes, and practices of biosafety and risk perception. We conducted baseline measurements and two follow-ups. Fractional logistic regression models were fitted with study stage as covariate. Additional models included interactions of study stage with key workers characteristics. Thematic qualitative analysis and triangulation was developed. The knowledge (+33.3 points, scale 0-100), attitudes (+10.6), and practices (+23.5) increased significantly in the first follow-up; knowledge de- creased in the second follow-up (p<0.001). The qualitative findings revealed an improvement in risk prevention attitudes and practices, framed by experiences of vulnerability, stigma, and discrimination. The study provides key elements for biosafety research related to vulnerable groups and it is effective in promoting the health of a disadvantaged and invisible sector.

PROSEDUR PENGGUNAAN ALAT PERLINDUNGAN DIRI DAN BIOSAFETY LEVEL 1 DAN 2

Implementation of the Occupational Health and Safety is one efforts to create a workplace that is safe, healthy, and free from environmental pollution, to reduce occupational accidents and disease, which in turn can improve the efficiency and productivity of labor. This is a descriptive explorative study that discuss about personal protective equipment procedures and biosafety level 1 and 2. Biosafety level is a combination of practice and application of procedures by workers at the laboratory facilities and safety equipment usage when working with dangerous infectious pathogenic agents. Biosafety level term is also used to describe the safe method in handling and managing materials that can infect a laboratory. It can be concluded that biosafety is a discipline in handling and containment system against infectious microorganisms and hazardous biological materials. The principles of biosafety cover the basics of the containment system, including the practice, and the correct laboratory techniques, safety equipment, laboratory facilities to protect workers, the environment and the public from exposure to infectious microorganisms.

Safety Procedure for Biosafety and Controlling a Communicable Disease: Streptococcus Suis

Background: Streptococcus suis infection is a zoonotic disease which cause fatal outbreak. Infection case is related to animal handling and dry season. Health workers on Timor island need to understand more about biosafety procedure and increase awareness of the disease as a potential causes of meningitis. Objective: To provide a simple yet comprehensive reading material for the health workers that is exposed to meningitis. Method: This is a descriptive explorative study, to search about Streptococcus suis in the James Cook University OneSearch library search engine and biosafety procedure in WHO and CDC database. The information in accessed articles were compiled into a review piece. Conclusion: The biggest risk factor for a Streptococcus suis outbreak is inappropriate pig carcass handling. The cocci infect via micro-lesion on the handler skin. Public awareness about an appropriate way to handle meat needed to be raised. Suspected case need to be referred to the nearest centre with an ability to conduct a PCR test. It is essential that people, especially health workers understand that the principles of biosafety cover the basics of the containment system, including the practice, and the correct laboratory techniques, safety equipment, laboratory facilities to protect workers, the environment, and the public from exposure to infectious microorganisms.

Principles of Biosafety in Industrial Use of Genetically Modified Microorganisms

Abstract — Regulatory control basic principles of genetically modified microorganisms (GMM) use in the developed industrial countries and Russian Federation are discussed in the review. Regulatory and legal framework improvement of the GMM use biosafety in the biotechnological industry of Russian Federation is also discussed. The problems of the normative documents harmonization with those in developed countries are regarded.

Biosafety principles and practices for the veterinary diagnostic laboratory.

Good biosafety and biocontainment programs and practices are critical components of the successful operation of any veterinary diagnostic laboratory. In this chapter we provide information and guidance on critical biosafety management program elements, facility requirements, protective equipment, and procedures necessary to ensure that the laboratory worker and the environment are adequately protected in the challenging work environment of the veterinary diagnostic laboratory in general and provide specific guidance for those laboratories employing molecular diagnostic techniques.

Biosafety Onboard the International Space Station

In a typical microbiological or biomedical laboratory, potentially harmful biological hazards are contained by laboratory practices and techniques, safety equipment (primary barriers and personal protective equipment), and facility design. Despite the unique and restrictive environment in space, sound biosafety principles and practices that are commonly used on the ground, such as adequate medical surveillance, thorough risk assessment, sufficient level of containment, effective remedial controls, and the use of proper personal protective equipment, can still be applied in space to mitigate the potential risks that biohazardous materials present to the astronauts and to the internal environment of the International Space Station (ISS).

Biochemistry Teaching in the Undergraduate Medical Course at Universidade Federalde Viçosa

Background:The current competencies and abilities required for the training of medical professionals, recommended by the National Curriculum Guidelines for Undergraduate Medicine (DCN) have initiated discussions about the teaching of biochemistry in medical schools. Objective: This study aimed to describe the rationale of education in the Clinical Laboratory Applieddisciplines – (LAC) I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII and VIII – which will be taught from first to eighth period of medical school at UFV. Methods:The disciplines weredesigned based on the competencies required for graduates of the course with 30 class hours each, always followingthe period of the study unit, integrated with other disciplines. Results:In the disciplines LACI and LAC II, taught in 2010, thestudents learned basic principles of biosafety, collection and storage of biological samples, validation of diagnostic tests, biochemical tests of cerebrospinal fluid, coagulation and renal function. They learned in the context of solving clinical cases presented and discussed in an integrated manner by a physician and a clinical biochemistry professor. Conclusion:According to the DCN, it is essential to facilitate the construction of knowledge in Biochemistry of themedical student, making the run for making clinical decisions based on scientific evidence.