MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEET - INFECTIOUS SUBSTANCES

SECTION I - INFECTIOUS AGENT

NAME: Actinobacillus spp.

SYNONYM OR CROSS REFERENCE: Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans, localized juvenile periodontitis

CHARACTERISTICS: Small, nonmotile, nonencapsulated, gram-negative coccobacilli or rods

SECTION II - HEALTH HAZARD

PATHOGENICITY: Occurs as a normal inhabitant of human respiratory tract; impaired host defense can lead to localized juvenile periodontitis; cases of subacute bacterial endocarditis and abscess formation also described

EPIDEMIOLOGY: Worldwide; common in human mouths

HOST RANGE: Humans

INFECTIOUS DOSE: Not known

MODE OF TRANSMISSION: By direct contact with saliva (i.e. kissing)

INCUBATION PERIOD: Not known

COMMUNICABILITY: Presumably while lesions are present

SECTION III - DISSEMINATION

RESERVOIR: Humans (mucous membrane of respiratory tract)

ZOONOSIS: None

VECTORS: None

SECTION IV - VIABILITY

DRUG SUSCEPTIBILITY: Sensitive to tetracycline, metronidazole

DRUG RESISTANCE: Penicillin; resistance to metronidazole is on the rise

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

PHYSICAL INACTIVATION: Heating at 121°C for 15 minutes under pressure

SURVIVAL OUTSIDE HOST: Survives for less than 24 hours when dried on paper

SECTION V - MEDICAL

SURVEILLANCE: Monitor for symptoms; confirm by bacterial isolation on blood agar and biochemical testing

FIRST AID/TREATMENT: Administer appropriate drug therapy

IMMUNIZATION: None available

PROPHYLAXIS: None available

SECTION VI - LABORATORY HAZARDS

LABORATORY-ACQUIRED INFECTIONS: None reported to date

SOURCES/SPECIMENS: Saliva, gingival scraping

PRIMARY HAZARDS: Accidental parenteral inoculation; droplet exposure of the mucous membranes

SPECIAL HAZARDS: None

SECTION VII - RECOMMENDED PRECAUTIONS

CONTAINMENT REQUIREMENTS: Biosafety level 2 practices and containment equipment for all activities involving bacterial cultures and potentially infectious body fluids or tissues

PROTECTIVE CLOTHING: Laboratory coat; gloves when skin contact with infectious material is unavoidable

OTHER PRECAUTIONS: None

SECTION VIII - HANDLING INFORMATION

SPILLS: Allow aerosols to settle; wearing protective clothing cover the spill with absorbent paper and apply 1% sodium hypochlorite, starting at the perimeter and working towards the centre; allow sufficient contact time (30 min) before clean up

DISPOSAL: Decontaminate all wastes before disposal; steam sterilization, chemical disinfection, incineration

STORAGE: In sealed containers that are appropriately labelled

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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