Proteus spp.
Proteus spp.
MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEET – INFECTIOUS SUBSTANCES
SECTION I – INFECTIOUS AGENT
NAME: Proteus spp.
SYNONYM OR CROSS REFERENCE: P. mirabilis, P. vulgaris, P. penneri, P. hauseri
CHARACTERISTICS: Gram-negative, motile, aerobic rod shaped bacilli, urease positive, characteristic swarming; part of the normal flora of the GI tract
SECTION II – HEALTH HAZARD
PATHOGENICITY: Chronic urinary tract infections, bacteremia, pneumonia and focal lesions in debilitated patients or those receiving intravenous infusions, neonatal meningoencephalitis, empyema, osteomyelitis, cystitis, pyelonephritis, prostatitis
EPIDEMIOLOGY: Worldwide; important cause of nosocomial infections acquired after antimicrobial therapy
HOST RANGE: Humans
INFECTIOUS DOSE: Unknown
MODE OF TRANSMISSION: Produces infections after leaving normal habitat in intestinal tract
INCUBATION PERIOD: Not well established
COMMUNICABILITY: Not transmitted from person-to-person
SECTION III – DISSEMINATION
RESERVOIR: Soil, water, sewage and part of normal flora of intestinal tract
ZOONOSIS: None
VECTORS: None
SECTION IV – VIABILITY
DRUG SUSCEPTIBILITY: Sensitive to very high concentrations of penicillin; usually sensitive to aminoglycosides and cephalosporins but drug susceptibility testing to specific antimicrobials needs to be done
DRUG RESISTANCE: Resistant to tetracycline; high level of ciprofloxacin resistance noted where use of agent is unrestricted; P. mirabilis is resistant to nitrofurantoin; P. penneri is more resistant to penicillin than the other strains
SUSCEPTIBILITY TO DISINFECTANTS: Susceptible to many disinfectants – 1% sodium hypochlorite, 70% ethanol, glutaraldehyde, iodines, phenolics, formaldehyde
PHYSICAL INACTIVATION: Inactivated by moist heat (121° C for at least 15 min) and dry heat (160 -170° C for at least 1 hour)
SURVIVAL OUTSIDE HOST: Survives well out of host, especially in areas where animal protein is decomposing (sewage, soil, water)
SECTION V – MEDICAL
SURVEILLANCE: Monitor for symptoms; culture of organism from blood, urine or exudates
FIRST AID/TREATMENT: Administer antibiotic therapy if necessary
IMMUNIZATION: None
PROPHYLAXIS: None
SECTION VI – LABORATORY HAZARDS
LABORATORY-ACQUIRED INFECTIONS: No reported laboratory-acquired infections with this organism
SOURCES/SPECIMENS: Blood, urine, wound exudates
PRIMARY HAZARDS: Accidental parenteral inoculation, exposure of mucous membranes and to droplets and aerosols, ingestion
SPECIAL HAZARDS: None
SECTION VII – RECOMMENDED PRECAUTIONS
CONTAINMENT REQUIREMENTS: Biosafety level 2 practices, containment equipment and facilities are recommended
PROTECTIVE CLOTHING: Laboratory coat; gloves when contact with infectious materials is unavoidable
OTHER PRECAUTIONS: None
SECTION VIII – HANDLING INFORMATION
SPILLS: Allow aerosols to settle; wearing protective clothing, gently cover spill with absorbent 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 appropriately labelled
SECTION IX – MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION
Date prepared: April, 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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