MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEET - INFECTIOUS SUBSTANCES

SECTION I - INFECTIOUS AGENT

NAME: Bacteroides spp.

SYNONYM OR CROSS REFERENCE: B. fragilis, B. ureolyticus, B. capillosus, B. bivius, B. disiens, B. vulgatus, B. thetaiotaomicron, B. ovatus, B. distasonis, B. splanchnicus, B. forsythus, B. tectum, B. intermedius (now Prevotella intermedia), B. asaccharolyticus, B. melaninogenicus (now Prevotella gingivalis)

CHARACTERISTICS: Gram negative bacilli, anaerobic, non-spore forming, nonmotile or motile with peritrichous flagella, brown pigmented colonies on blood agar

SECTION II - HEALTH HAZARD

PATHOGENICITY: Normal inhabitants of oral, respiratory, intestinal and urogenital cavities (predominant bacteria of colon); can cause severe infection in proximity to mucosal surfaces where they exist normally; bacteremia, abscesses and lesions in all regions of body (lung, abdomen, brain), peridontitis, endocarditis, wound infections; many infections are prolonged and sometimes fatal

EPIDEMIOLOGY: Worldwide; responsible for 10% of gram-negative bacteremias in North America

HOST RANGE: Humans, other mammals

INFECTIOUS DOSE: Unknown

MODE OF TRANSMISSION: Part of normal flora that invade tissues after surgical or accidental trauma, edema, anoxia and tissue destruction (from infection with other organisms or malignancies) other predisposing factors include antibiotic treatment (eliminate aerobes and foster invasiveness of more resistant bacteroides) or immunosuppressive treatment

INCUBATION PERIOD: Unknown

COMMUNICABILITY: Not transmitted from person to person

SECTION III - DISSEMINATION

RESERVOIR: Gastrointestinal tract of humans and animals

ZOONOSIS: Yes - wound infection by bite of infected animals or contact with feces

VECTORS: None

SECTION IV - VIABILITY

DRUG SUSCEPTIBILITY: Susceptible to metronidazole

DRUG RESISTANCE : Frequently resistant to penicillin, tetracycline, clindamycin, colistin, kanamycin and other aminoglycosides

SUSCEPTIBILITY TO DISINFECTANTS: Susceptible to 1% sodium hypochlorite, 70% ethanol, 2% glutaraldehyde, iodines, phenolics, formaldehyde

PHYSICAL INACTIVATION: Sensitive to moist heat (121°C for at least 15 min) and dry heat (160-170°C for at least 1 hour)

SURVIVAL OUTSIDE HOST: Bacteroides survive for only 24 - 72 hours exposed to air

SECTION V - MEDICAL

SURVEILLANCE: Presence of foul-smelling discharge or gas in tissue suggests infection by bacteroides

FIRST AID/TREATMENT: Surgical drainage, alone or together with antibacterial therapy

IMMUNIZATION: None

PROPHYLAXIS: Preventive treatment with vancomycin

SECTION VI - LABORATORY HAZARDS

LABORATORY-ACQUIRED INFECTIONS: None reported to date

SOURCES/SPECIMENS: Feces, wound exudates, necrotic tissues, respiratory tissues

PRIMARY HAZARDS: Accidental parenteral inoculation; direct contact of mucous membranes (or wounds, cuts on skin)

SPECIAL HAZARDS: None

SECTION VII - RECOMMENDED PRECAUTIONS

CONTAINMENT REQUIREMENTS: Well designed laboratory with good microbiological practices; this level of containment does not allow for any additional risk that may present for those persons with pre-existing disease, compromised immunity, or who are pregnant

PROTECTIVE CLOTHING: Laboratory coat; gloves when direct 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 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 labelled appropriately

SECTION IX - MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION

Date prepared: November 1999

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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