MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEET - INFECTIOUS SUBSTANCES SECTION I - INFECTIOUS AGENT NAME: Cryptococcus neoformans SYNONYM OR CROSS REFERENCE: Cryptococcosis, Torulosis, European blastomycosis CHARACTERISTICS: Yeast; often budding, surrounded by a wide mucopolysaccharide capsule SECTION II - HEALTH HAZARD PATHOGENICITY: Mycosis presenting as a subacute or chronic meningitis; infection of lung, kidney, prostate, bone or liver may occur; skin lesions, ulcers or subcutaneous tumour-like masses; untreated meningitis terminates fatally within several months EPIDEMIOLOGY: Sporadic cases occur worldwide; males infected twice as frequently as females, mainly adults; important mycosis in immunocompromised patients leg. (Patients with AIDS or severe combined immunodeficiency) HOST RANGE: Humans; cats, dogs, horses, cows, monkeys and other animals INFECTIOUS DOSE: Low level of pathogenicity for normal immunocompetent adults MODE OF TRANSMISSION: Presumably by inhalation INCUBATION PERIOD: Unknown; pulmonary disease may precede brain infection by months or years COMMUNICABILITY: Not transmitted directly from person to person SECTION III - DISSEMINATION RESERVOIR: Saprophytic growth in external environment; isolated consistently from old pigeon nests, pigeon droppings and from soil in many parts of world ZOONOSIS: Not transmitted from animals to humans VECTORS: None SECTION IV - VIABILITY DRUG SUSCEPTIBILITY: Sensitive to amphotericin B, 5-fluorocytosine, fluconazole, ketoconazole DRUG RESISTANCE: Resistant strains to all of the above drugs have been isolated SUSCEPTIBILITY TO DISINFECTANTS: Susceptible to 1% sodium hypochlorite, iodine, phenolics, glutaraldehyde, formaldehyde; susceptibility to 70% ethanol questionable PHYSICAL INACTIVATION: Inactivated by moist heat (121°C for at least 15 min) SURVIVAL OUTSIDE HOST: Survives for months to years, especially in pigeon droppings SECTION V - MEDICAL SURVEILLANCE: Monitor for symptoms; confirm by microscopic examination of specimens (usually CSF, may also be present in urine or pus); confirm by culture or histopathology FIRST AID/TREATMENT: Combination therapy with amphotericin B and 5-fluorocytosine or ketoconazole IMMUNIZATION: None PROPHYLAXIS: None SECTION VI - LABORATORY HAZARDS LABORATORY-ACQUIRED INFECTIONS: Respiratory infections from laboratory exposure not recorded; 1 recorded case as a result of laceration by a scalpel blade contaminated with encapsulated yeast cells SOURCES/SPECIMENS: Clinical specimens and tissues (blood, CSF); soil, pigeon droppings and other environmental sources PRIMARY HAZARDS: Accidental parenteral inoculation of cultures or other infectious materials; bites by experimentally infectious mice; manipulations of infectious environmental materials (pigeon droppings) also represent a potential hazard SPECIAL HAZARDS: Immunocompromised individuals are particularly at risk SECTION VII - RECOMMENDED PRECAUTIONS CONTAINMENT REQUIREMENTS: Biosafety level 2 practices, containment equipment and facilities are recommended for activities with known or potentially infectious materials; processing of soil or other environmental materials likely to contain infectious yeast cells should be conducted in a biological safety cabinet PROTECTIVE CLOTHING: Laboratory coat; gloves when direct contact with infectious materials is unavoidable OTHER PRECAUTIONS: Good sanitation, cleaning and disinfection important SECTION VIII - HANDLING INFORMATION SPILLS: Allow aerosols to settle; wearing protective clothing, gently cover spill with paper towels and apply 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, incineration, chemical disinfection STORAGE: In sealed containers that are appropriately labelled SECTION IX - MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION Date prepared: February 2000 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 © [Material Safety Data Sheets - Index]
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Last Updated: 2001-01-23 |