Pseudomonas spp.
Pseudomonas spp. (excluding B. mallei, B. pseudomallei)
MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEET – INFECTIOUS SUBSTANCES
SECTION I – INFECTIOUS AGENT
NAME: Pseudomonas spp. (excluding B. mallei, B. pseudomallei)
SYNONYM OR CROSS REFERENCE: P. aeruginosa, P. cepacia
CHARACTERISTICS: Family Pseudomonadaceae, gram negative bacillus, aerobic, non-spore forming, some pigmented (pyocyanin, fluorescein), motile by polar flagella, variety of toxins produced
SECTION II – HEALTH HAZARD
PATHOGENICITY: Opportunistic pathogen, greatest risk of disease in the immunocompromised; most medical conditions arise from colonization of pathogen in the respiratory and urinary tracts or due to deep disseminated infections leading to pneumonia and bacteremia; chronic respiratory infections among cystic fibrosis patients; eye infections (especially in contact lens wearers); nosocomial infections causing severe and often fatal infections (case fatality in susceptible populations is 30%), increasingly associated with bacterial meningitis, abscesses, endocarditis
EPIDEMIOLOGY: Worldwide; increasing in frequency in recent years; commonly a nosocomial infection associated with contaminated instruments; 16% of nosocomial pneumonia, 12% of hospital acquired urinary-tract infections; rarely causes community acquired infections in immunocompetent patients
HOST RANGE: Humans, animals, plants
INFECTIOUS DOSE: Not known
MODE OF TRANSMISSION: Direct contact with contaminated water, aerosols or aspirations, by contact of mucous membranes with discharges from infected conjunctivae or upper respiratory tract of infected persons through contaminated objects (improperly sterilized medical equipment, contaminated IV fluids) or fingers;
INCUBATION PERIOD: Variable depending on infection; eye infection – 24 to 72 hours
COMMUNICABILITY: Can be transmitted during course of active infection
SECTION III – DISSEMINATION
RESERVOIR: Saprophyte – soil, water, decomposing matter; infected animals and humans; infected solutions – I.V., soaps, eye drops, humidifiers; organism thrives in moist conditions
ZOONOSIS: None
VECTORS: None
SECTION IV – VIABILITY
DRUG SUSCEPTIBILITY: Sensitive to extended spectrum penicillins, aminoglycosides, cephalosporins, fluroquinolones, polymixins and monobactams; aminoglycoside with a beta-lactam penicillin is the first line of treatment
DRUG RESISTANCE: Multidrug resistant strains are on the rise
SUSCEPTIBILITY TO DISINFECTANTS: Susceptible to many disinfectants – 1% sodium hypochlorite, 70% ethanol, 2% glutaraldehyde, formaldehyde; few reports of this bacteria growing in disinfectant solutions; alcohol-containing disinfectants recommended for resistant strains
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 for several months in water with minimal nutrients
SECTION V – MEDICAL
SURVEILLANCE: Bacteriological identification of infection
FIRST AID/TREATMENT: Antibiotic therapy – aggressive treatment is necessary to avoid chronic infections; drainage of wounds; local application of antibiotic ointment or drops
IMMUNIZATION: None
PROPHYLAXIS: Antibiotic prophylaxis, not usually administered
SECTION VI – LABORATORY HAZARDS
LABORATORY-ACQUIRED INFECTIONS: No reported infections to date
SOURCES/SPECIMENS: Clinical specimens – respiratory secretions, wound exudates, blood, urine; environmental specimens – water, infected solutions (IV, disinfectants, soap)
PRIMARY HAZARDS: Accidental parenteral inoculation; direct contact of mucous membranes with infected materials; inhalation of infectious aerosols and ingestion also present a hazard
SPECIAL HAZARDS: None
SECTION VII – RECOMMENDED PRECAUTIONS
CONTAINMENT REQUIREMENTS: Biosafety level 2 practices, containment equipment and facilities for activities involving suspected or known infectious specimens and cultures
PROTECTIVE CLOTHING: Laboratory coat, gloves when direct contact with infectious materials is unavoidable
OTHER PRECAUTIONS: Good personal hygiene, frequent hand washing and the avoidance of rubbing eyes as a precautionary measure against eye infections
SECTION VIII – HANDLING INFORMATION
SPILLS: Allow aerosols to settle; wearing protective clothing, gently cover spill with paper towels and apply 1% sodium hypochlorite, starting at perimeter and working towards the centre; allow sufficient contact time before clean up and disposal (30 min)
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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