Chlamydia Trachomatis
Chlamydia Trachomatis
MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEET – INFECTIOUS SUBSTANCES
SECTION I – INFECTIOUS AGENT
NAME: Chlamydia trachomatis
SYNONYM OR CROSS REFERENCE: TRIC agents, Bedsonia
CHARACTERISTICS: Gram negative bacilli, obligate intracellular bacteria, non-motile
SECTION II – HEALTH HAZARD
PATHOGENICITY: Causes lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV), trachoma and inclusion conjunctivitis; nongonococcal urethritis, epididymitis, cervicitis, urethritis, infant pneumonia, pelvic inflammatory diseases (PID), Reiter’s syndrome (oligoarthritis) and neonatal conjunctivitis
EPIDEMIOLOGY: Worldwide; still endemic in impoverished parts of dry hot Mediterranean countries and Far East, and among American Indians; C. trachomatis is the most common sexually transmitted bacterial agent
HOST RANGE: Humans
INFECTIOUS DOSE: Not known
MODE OF TRANSMISSION: Direct contact with discharges from infected persons, or materials soiled therewith; venereal transmission
INCUBATION PERIOD: 7 to 14 days for genital infection; 5 to 12 days for infant conjunctivitis; 6 to 19 days for adult conjunctivitis; 3 to 30 days for lymphogranuloma venereum; 5 to 12 days for trachoma
COMMUNICABILITY: Unknown for genital disease
SECTION III – DISSEMINATION
RESERVOIR: Humans
ZOONOSIS: None
VECTORS: None
SECTION IV – VIABILITY
DRUG SUSCEPTIBILITY: Resistant to penicillin; sensitive to doxycycline, tetracycline, erythromycin, and azithromycin
SUSCEPTIBILITY TO DISINFECTANTS: Susceptible to 1% sodium hypochlorite, 70% ethanol, 2% glutaraldehyde, formaldehyde
PHYSICAL INACTIVATION: Susceptible to moist heat (121°C for at least 15 min) and dry heat (160-170°C for at least 1 hour)
SURVIVAL OUTSIDE HOST: Carcass and organs – 1 to 7 days; glass – 30 min; water (50°C) – 30 min
SECTION V – MEDICAL
SURVEILLANCE: Demonstration of intracytoplasmic inclusion bodies in epithelial cells of conjunctiva or isolation of organism; examination of endocervical or intraurethral swab by direct immunofluorescence, EIA, DNA probe or cell culture
FIRST AID/TREATMENT: Flush exposed area of eye with water; topical or oral treatment with antibiotics
IMMUNIZATION: None
PROPHYLAXIS: Antibiotic prophylaxis
SECTION VI – LABORATORY HAZARDS
LABORATORY-ACQUIRED INFECTIONS: Chlamydia is the fifth most commonly reported infection (most are psittacosis); 6 reported cases of infection with C. trachomatis up to 1987 ; usually manifested as conjunctivitis, however severe cases of pneumonia have occurred through exposure to aerosols
SOURCES/SPECIMENS: Genital, bubo and conjunctival fluids
PRIMARY HAZARDS: Accidental parenteral inoculation; direct and indirect exposure of mucous membranes of the eyes, nose, and mouth to infected fluids (see above), cell culture materials and fluids from infected eggs; infectious aerosols are a potential source of infection
SPECIAL HAZARDS: None
SECTION VII – RECOMMENDED PRECAUTIONS
CONTAINMENT REQUIREMENTS: Biosafety level 2 practices and containment for the diagnostic examination of tissues known or potentially infected with C. trachomatis; Biosafety level 3 may be indicated for activities with high potential for droplet or aerosol production or production quantities
PROTECTIVE CLOTHING: Laboratory coat; gloves when direct contact with infectious materials is unavoidable; gown (tied wrists and tie in back) and gloves for work in biosafety cabinet
OTHER PRECAUTIONS: Do not rub eyes while handling chlamydia-infected materials
SECTION VIII – HANDLING INFORMATION
SPILLS: Allow aerosols to settle; wearing protective clothing, gently cover spill with paper towel and apply 1% sodium hypochlorite, starting at perimeter and working towards the centre; allow sufficient contact time (30 min) before clean up
DISPOSAL: Decontaminate before disposal; steam sterilization, chemical disinfection, incineration
STORAGE: In sealed containers that are labelled appropriately
SECTION IX – MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION
Date prepared: November 1999
Prepared by: Office of Laboratory Security, PHAC
Although the information, opinions and recommendations contained in this Material Safety Data Sheet are compiled from sources believed to be reliable, we accept no responsibility for the accuracy, sufficiency, or reliability or for any loss or injury resulting from the use of the information. Newly discovered hazards are frequent and this information may not be completely up to date.
Copyright © Health Canada, 2001
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