RESUMO
Laboratory-acquired infections are as old as laboratories themselves. As soon as the culture of microorganisms was introduced, so too was their transfer to laboratory workers. It is only in relatively recent history that such infections have been fully understood, and methods of spread and their prevention or avoidance developed. This paper endeavours to provide an overview of the history of laboratory-acquired infection and the steps taken, particularly in the UK, for its prevention.
Assuntos
Infecção Laboratorial/história , História do Século XX , Humanos , Laboratórios/legislação & jurisprudência , Infecção Laboratorial/etiologia , Infecção Laboratorial/transmissão , Doenças Profissionais/história , Reino UnidoRESUMO
An estimated 500,000 laboratory workers in the United States are at risk of exposure to infectious agents that cause disease ranging from inapparent to life-threatening infections, but the precise risk to a given worker unknown. The emergence of human immunodeficiency virus and hantavirus, the continuing problem of hepatitis B virus, and the reemergence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis have renewed interest in biosafety for the employees of laboratories and health care facilities. This review examines the history, the causes, and the methods for prevention of laboratory-associated infections. The initial step in a biosafety program is the assessment of risk to the employee. Risk assessment guidelines include the pathogenicity of the infectious agent, the method of transmission, worker-related risk factors, the source and route of infection, and the design of the laboratory facility. Strategies for the prevention and management of laboratory-associated infections are based on the containment of the infectious agent by physical separation from the laboratory worker and the environment, employee education about the occupational risks, and availability of an employee health program. Adherence to the biosafety guidelines mandated or proposed by various governmental and accrediting agencies reduces the risk of an occupational exposure to infectious agents handled in the workplace.
Assuntos
Contenção de Riscos Biológicos/normas , Infecção Laboratorial/microbiologia , História do Século XX , Humanos , Infecção Laboratorial/história , Infecção Laboratorial/transmissão , Medição de Risco , Gestão da SegurançaAssuntos
Transmissão de Doença Infecciosa do Paciente para o Profissional/história , Infecção Laboratorial/história , Febre Amarela/história , História do Século XX , Hospitais Especializados/história , Humanos , Infecção Laboratorial/transmissão , Londres , Masculino , Medicina Tropical/história , Febre Amarela/transmissãoRESUMO
Instances of overt laboratory-associated infection recorded in published reports and additional cases disclosed by questionnaires and personal communications have been tabulated. Of a total of 3921 cases, 2465 occurred in the United States and 164 were fatal. Only 64% of the cases were reported in the literature. Analysis of the available information revealed that only 18% of the infections were due to known accidents; 42% were caused by bacteria; 27% by viruses; 15% by rickettsiae; 9% by fungi; 3% by chlamydiae; and 3% by parasites. It may be significant that fewer infections have been recorded in the past decade than in any of the four preceding decades. Possible reasons for this apparent decrease are discussed.
