MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEET - INFECTIOUS SUBSTANCES

SECTION I - INFECTIOUS AGENT

NAME: Cytomegalovirus

SYNONYM OR CROSS REFERENCE: CMV, Human (beta) herpesvirus 5

CHARACTERISTICS: Herpesviridae, double-stranded linear DNA, 150 nm diameter, enveloped, icosahedral,

SECTION II - HEALTH HAZARD

PATHOGENICITY: Infection is common and usually asymptomatic; most severe form is congenital with severe generalized infection involving CNS and liver; lethargy, convulsions, jaundice, pneumonitis, encephalitis; high neonatal case fatality rate for severely affected infants; inapparent infections later in life, mononucleosis-like but without pharyngitis; reactivation, infection, or reinfection may occur in immunocompromised patients (bone marrow and other transplants) - pneumonitis, hepatitis are retinitis are most common manifestations in this group

EPIDEMIOLOGY: Worldwide; acquired early in developing countries; serum antibodies in adults 40% in developed areas and 100% in developing countries; higher in women; immunodeficient patients (fetus, newborn, immunocompromised) at high risk

HOST RANGE: Humans

INFECTIOUS DOSE: Not known

MODE OF TRANSMISSION: Intimate exposure by cutaneous or mucosal contact with infectious tissues, secretions or excretions (urine, saliva, breast milk, cervical secretions, semen); fetus infected in utero; postnatal infection at delivery; blood transfusion a common cause of post-transfusion mononucleosis (about 3% risk); organ transplantation

INCUBATION PERIOD: Illness occurs 3-8 weeks after transfusion with infected blood; infections demonstrable 3-12 weeks after delivery

COMMUNICABILITY: Communicable in urine and saliva for months and may persist for several years; after neonatal infection, virus may be excreted for years; adults excrete for shorter periods but virus persists as latent infection; (3% of healthy adults are pharyngeal excreters; excretion recurs with immunodeficiency and immunosuppression)

SECTION III - DISSEMINATION

RESERVOIR: Humans; CMVstrains found in many animal species are not infectious for humans

ZOONOSIS: None

VECTORS: None

SECTION IV - VIABILITY

DRUG SUSCEPTIBILITY: Gancyclovir reduces or interrupts viral replication in vivo

SUSCEPTIBILITY TO DISINFECTANTS: Susceptible to disinfectants - 1% sodium hypochlorite, 70% ethanol, glutaraldehyde, formaldehyde

PHYSICAL INACTIVATION: Inactivated by heat (50-60°C for at least 30 min), low pH, lipid solvents, UV light, cycles of freezing/thawing

SURVIVAL OUTSIDE HOST: Survives at room temperature for a few days

SECTION V - MEDICAL

SURVEILLANCE: Monitor for symptoms; antibody screening of blood for seropositivity; confirm by virus isolation or PCR detection in blood, urine, respiratory secretions or tissue samples (organs)

FIRST AID/TREATMENT: Gancyclovir available for documented severe CMV infections

IMMUNIZATION: None available

PROPHYLAXIS: CMV specific gamma globulins (only moderate success)

SECTION VI - LABORATORY HAZARDS

LABORATORY-ACQUIRED INFECTIONS: Low incidence of infections, however the frequency of its presence in clinical materials warrants concern

SOURCES/SPECIMENS: Urine, saliva, blood, cervical secretions, breast milk, tissue in cell cultures, human tissues

PRIMARY HAZARDS: Droplet exposure of mucous membranes, accidental parenteral inoculation, ingestion, inhalation of concentrated aerosolized materials

SPECIAL HAZARDS: None

SECTION VII - RECOMMENDED PRECAUTIONS

CONTAINMENT REQUIREMENTS: Biosafety level 2 practices, containment equipment and facilities for activities involving known or potentially infected clinical materials or cultures; use primary barriers (biological safety cabinet)

PROTECTIVE CLOTHING: Laboratory coat; gloves when direct contact with infectious materials is unavoidable; gown (tight wrists and ties in back) and gloves for work in biosafety cabinet

OTHER PRECAUTIONS: Observe strict standard measures of hygiene including frequent handwashing

SECTION VIII - HANDLING INFORMATION

SPILLS: Allow aerosols to settle; wear 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 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 ©
Health Canada, 2001

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