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MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEET - INFECTIOUS SUBSTANCES SECTION I - INFECTIOUS AGENT NAME: Corynebacterium diphtheriae SYNONYM OR CROSS REFERENCE: Diphtheria CHARACTERISTICS: Gram positive rod, non-sporulating, non-motile, characteristic swelling at one end of bacillus (club shaped), facultative anaerobe, metachromic granules, three biotypes - gravis, mitis, intermedius; produces a toxin SECTION II - HEALTH HAZARD PATHOGENICITY: Two types of clinical infection: nasopharyngeal and cutaneous. Main manifestation is an upper respiratory tract infection, characterized by pharyngitis, fever, malaise, swelling of the neck and headache. Hypoxia may develop due to airway obstruction by the pseudomembrane; characteristic lesion marked by patch of grayish membrane with surrounding inflammation is hallmark of cutaneous infection; many inapparent infections; late effects of toxin after 2-6 weeks include cranial, motor and sensory nerve palsies and myocarditis, endocarditis; case fatality rate of 5-10% for noncutaneous diphtheria EPIDEMIOLOGY: Normal flora of skin and nasopharynx; disease of colder months in temperate zones, involving unimmunized children; found in adults whose immunization was neglected; in the tropics, seasonal trends are less distinct; inapparent, cutaneous and wound diphtheria cases are much more common HOST RANGE: Humans INFECTIOUS DOSE: Toxin is extremely potent MODE OF TRANSMISSION: Direct respiratory or physical contact with patient or carrier; more rarely with articles soiled with discharges from lesions of infected persons; raw milk has served as a vehicle INCUBATION PERIOD: Usually 2-5 days, occasionally longer COMMUNICABILITY: Variable period, until virulent bacilli have disappeared from discharges and lesions (2 weeks or less); rare chronic carriers may shed organisms for 6 months or more; appropriate antibiotic therapy terminates shedding promptly SECTION III - DISSEMINATION RESERVOIR: Humans ZOONOSIS: None VECTORS: None SECTION IV - VIABILITY DRUG SUSCEPTIBILITY: Sensitive to erythromycin and penicillin DRUG RESISTANCE: Erythromycin-resistant isolates have been reported SUSCEPTIBILITY TO DISINFECTANTS: Susceptible to many disinfectants - 1% sodium hypochlorite and 70% ethanol, glutaraldehyde, formaldehyde, iodines 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: Air - 2.5 hours; carcass - 14 days; dust -7-102 days; exudate (infectious croup membrane) - up to 150 days; contaminated wooden toy - 180 days; soil - 1 year; SECTION V - MEDICAL SURVEILLANCE: Surveillance for lesions and formation of pseudomembrane; confirmation by culturing FIRST AID/TREATMENT: If diphtheria is strongly suspected, antitoxin should be given without awaiting bacterial confirmation; antibiotic therapy should be administered after cultures in conjunction with antitoxin IMMUNIZATION: Immunization in young children with diphtheria toxoid (usually combined with tetanus toxoid and pertussis vaccine - DTP); primary immunization in adults with TD; protection maintained in adults and children by administering a dose of TD every 10 years PROPHYLAXIS: Booster dose of TD; if infected and not previously immunized, antibiotic therapy and immunization started with first dose of toxoid SECTION VI - LABORATORY HAZARDS LABORATORY-ACQUIRED INFECTIONS: 33 documented cases up to 1976; at least one reported since then; laboratory animal-associated infections have not been reported SOURCES/SPECIMENS: Exudates or secretions of the nose, throat (tonsil), pharynx, larynx, wounds; blood, skin PRIMARY HAZARDS: Inhalation of infectious aerosols and droplets; accidental parenteral inoculation; ingestion SPECIAL HAZARDS: None SECTION VII - RECOMMENDED PRECAUTIONS CONTAINMENT REQUIREMENTS: Biosafety level 2 practices, containment equipment and facilities for all activities involving known or potentially infected clinical materials or cultures; animal biosafety level 2 facilities for studies utilizing infected laboratory animals PROTECTIVE CLOTHING: Laboratory coat; gloves when direct contact with infectious materials OTHER PRECAUTIONS: Administration of adult diphtheria-tetanus toxoid at 10-year intervals to reduce the risk to laboratory and animal care personnel of toxin exposures and work with infected materials SECTION VIII - HANDLING INFORMATION SPILLS: Allow aerosols to settle; wearing protective clothing, gently cover spill with absorbent 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 appropriately labelled SECTION IX - MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION Date prepared: January 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 | ![]() |