Neisseria Gonorrhoeae
Neisseria Gonorrhoeae
MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEET – INFECTIOUS SUBSTANCES
SECTION I – INFECTIOUS AGENT
NAME: Neisseria gonorrhoeae
SYNONYM OR CROSS REFERENCE: Gonococcus, Gonorrhea, GC
CHARACTERISTICS: Family Neisseriaceae; gram negative diplococci, intra and extra-cellular, ßlactamases plasmids (PNPG strain); infects columnar and transitional epithelium; antigenically heterogeneous
SECTION II – HEALTH HAZARD
PATHOGENICITY: Localized inflammatory conditions – urethritis, cervicitis, salpingitis (PID), pharyngitis of adults, vulvovaginitis in children; conjunctivitis of the newborn; septicemia may occur with lesions, bacteremia in the arthritis and dermatitis syndrome; endocarditis and meningitis; other complications include perihepatitis and neonatal amnionitis; death is rare except among those with endocarditis; reinfection is common despite development of antibodies
EPIDEMIOLOGY: Common worldwide; affects both sexes and all ages; prevalent in sexually active adolescents and younger adults; incidence increasing worldwide but decreasing in North America; incidence in Canada was 18.6 per 100 000 in 1995
HOST RANGE: Humans
INFECTIOUS DOSE: Unknown
MODE OF TRANSMISSION: By contact with exudates from mucous membranes of infected persons, almost always as a result of sexual activity; conjunctivitis of the newborn – contact with infected birth canal during childbirth
INCUBATION PERIOD: Usually 2-7 days, sometimes longer
COMMUNICABILITY: Period of communicability may extend for months if untreated especially in asymptomatic individuals; effective therapy usually ends communicability within hours
SECTION III – DISSEMINATION
RESERVOIR: Humans
ZOONOSIS: None
VECTORS: None
SECTION IV – VIABILITY
DRUG SUSCEPTIBILITY: Cefixime, ceftriscone,ciprofloxacin, orafloxacin; third generation cephalosporins and fluroquinolones are generally effective sensitive to streptomycin, tetracycline and ceftriaxone
DRUG RESISTANCE: Resistance is due to carriage of plasmids which carry genes for resistance (e.g., PNPG strain resistant to penicillin); widespread resistance to penicillin and tetracycline; resistance to fluroquinones (notably ciprofloxicin and norfloxicin) have been reported
SUSCEPTIBILITY TO DISINFECTANTS: Susceptible to many disinfectants – 1% sodium hypochlorite, 70% ethanol, glutaraldehyde, formaldehyde, iodines
PHYSICAL INACTIVATION: Sensitive to moist heat (121° C for at least 15 min) a dry heat (160-170° C for at least 1 hour)
SURVIVAL OUTSIDE HOST: Glass – 48 hours; paper – up to 3 days; plastic – 24 hours; sponge – 24 hours; toilet seat – several hours
SECTION V – MEDICAL
SURVEILLANCE: Monitor for symptoms; serological tests lack specificity and not recommended; smears and culture are necessary for confirmation
FIRST AID/TREATMENT: Antibiotic therapy
IMMUNIZATION: None
PROPHYLAXIS: Silver nitrate or erythromycin topically in the eyes of newborns at birth
SECTION VI – LABORATORY HAZARDS
LABORATORY-ACQUIRED INFECTIONS: Four cases of laboratory-associated gonorrhoea have been reported in the US
SOURCES/SPECIMENS: Conjunctival, urethral and cervical exudates; synovial fluid; urine, feces; cerebrospinal fluid
PRIMARY HAZARDS: Accidental parenteral inoculation; direct or indirect contact with mucous membranes with infectious clinical materials; the importance of aerosols is not determined
SPECIAL HAZARDS: None
SECTION VII – RECOMMENDED PRECAUTIONS
CONTAINMENT REQUIREMENTS: Biosafety level 2 practices, containment equipment and facilities for all activities involving clinical materials and cultures; additional primary containment and personnel precautions (biosafety level 3) for all activities involving generation of aerosols or droplets and the production of quantities or concentrations of organisms
PROTECTIVE CLOTHING: Laboratory coat; gloves when handling infected laboratory animals and when there is the likelihood of direct skin contact with infectious materials
OTHER PRECAUTIONS: None
SECTION VIII – HANDLING INFORMATION
SPILLS: Allow aerosols to settle; wearing protective clothing, gently cover spill with paper towel and then 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 appropriately labelled
SECTION IX – MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION
Date prepared: March, 2001
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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