Bacillus Cereus
Bacillus Cereus
MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEET – INFECTIOUS SUBSTANCES
SECTION I – INFECTIOUS AGENT
NAME: Bacillus cereus
SYNONYM OR CROSS REFERENCE: Bacillus cereus food poisoning
CHARACTERISTICS: Large (1 x 3-4 µm), aerobic, gram-positive rod; spore forming; motile; produces heat stable and heat labile toxins
SECTION II – HEALTH HAZARD
PATHOGENICITY: Opportunistic pathogen; intoxication characterized by two forms: an emetic form with severe nausea and vomiting and a diarrheal form with abdominal cramps and diarrhea; both forms are usually mild and self-limiting (24 hrs); immunocompromised individuals are susceptible to bacteremia, endocarditis, meningitis, pneumonia; also associated with posttraumatic endophthalmitis (ocular infection – rare)
EPIDEMIOLOGY: Worldwide; common cause of foodborne disease, especially in Europe
HOST RANGE: Humans
INFECTIOUS DOSE: Greater that 106 organisms by ingestion (>105 organisms/g of food)
MODE OF TRANSMISSION: Ingestion of foods kept at ambient conditions after cooking; emetic form frequently associated with cooked rice
INCUBATION PERIOD: Emetic form 1-6 hours, average 4 hours; diarrheal form 6-24 hours, average 17 hours
COMMUNICABILITY: Not communicable from person to person
SECTION III – DISSEMINATION
RESERVOIR: Ubiquitous organism of the soil; commonly found in low levels in raw, dried and processed foods
ZOONOSIS: None
VECTORS: None
SECTION IV – VIABILITY
DRUG SUSCEPTIBILITY: Sensitive to chloramphenicol, aminoglycosides, vancomycin, clindamycin, erythromycin
DRUG RESISTANCE: Resistant to penicillin, ampicillin, cephalosporins, trimethoprim
SUSCEPTIBILITY TO DISINFECTANTS: Spores are relatively resistant; inactivated by 2% glutaraldehyde, 5% sodium hypochlorite; prolonged contact times required
PHYSICAL INACTIVATION: Spores destroyed by heating at 100°C for 10 min; ionizing radiation destroys spores with 540 krad
SURVIVAL OUTSIDE HOST: Spores are relatively resistant to heat and dessication; survive cooking
SECTION V – MEDICAL
SURVEILLANCE: Monitor for symptoms and confirm by identification of organism in suspected food and faeces of patients
FIRST AID/TREATMENT: Supportive therapy
IMMUNIZATION: None available
PROPHYLAXIS: None available
SECTION VI – LABORATORY HAZARDS
LABORATORY-ACQUIRED INFECTIONS: None reported to date
SOURCES/SPECIMENS: Contaminated food sources, stool
PRIMARY HAZARDS: Ingestion of contaminated material
SPECIAL HAZARDS: None
SECTION VII – RECOMMENDED PRECAUTIONS
CONTAINMENT REQUIREMENTS: Biosafety level 2 practices, containment equipment and facilities for activities involving clinical specimens and cultures
PROTECTIVE CLOTHING: Laboratory coat; gloves when skin contact with infectious materials is unavoidable
OTHER PRECAUTIONS: Good personal hygiene and frequent handwashing
SECTION VIII – HANDLING INFORMATION
SPILLS: Allow aerosols to settle; wearing protective clothing, gently cover spill with absorbent paper towel and apply 5% sodium hypochlorite starting at the perimeter and working towards the centre; allow sufficent contact time before clean up
DISPOSAL: Decontaminate all wastes before disposal; steam sterilization, chemical disinfection, incineration
STORAGE: In sealed containers that are appropriately labelled
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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