MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEET - INFECTIOUS SUBSTANCES

SECTION I - INFECTIOUS AGENT

NAME: Fusobacterium spp.

SYNONYM OR CROSS REFERENCE: F. necrophorum, F. mortiferum, F. nucleatum, F. varium, F. gonidiaformans, F alocis, F. pseudonecrophorum, F. salci, F. ulcerans

CHARACTERISTICS: Anaerobic gram-negative bacilli, non-sporulating, slender cells with tapered ends or pleomorphic, irregular staining

SECTION II - HEALTH HAZARD

EPIDEMIOLOGY: Worldwide; F. nucleatum most common Fusobacterium species found in clinical infections, however, F. necrophorum is most virulent species

HOST RANGE: Humans and animals (horses, cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, fowl and others)

INFECTIOUS DOSE: Not known

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); animal bites; other predisposing factors include antibiotic treatment (eliminate aerobes and foster invasiveness) or immunosuppressive treatment

INCUBATION PERIOD: Not clearly defined

COMMUNICABILITY: Not transmitted from person-to-person

SECTION III - DISSEMINATION

RESERVOIR: Humans and animals (alimentary canal and feces of healthy ruminants and pigs)

ZOONOSIS: Yes - wound contamination by animal bites or feces

VECTORS: None

SECTION IV - VIABILITY

DRUG SUSCEPTIBILITY: Sensitive to penicillin, clindamycin, chloramphenicol

DRUG RESISTANCE: Erythromycin and macrolides

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

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

SURVIVAL OUTSIDE HOST: Manure - 292 days; culture exposed to air -7 days; soil - 56 days

SECTION V - MEDICAL

SURVEILLANCE: Presence of foul-smelling discharge or gas in tissue suggests infection, microscopic examination, GLC and molecular probes

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

IMMUNIZATION: None

PROPHYLAXIS: Preventive treatment with penicillin

SECTION VI - LABORATORY HAZARDS

LABORATORY-ACQUIRED INFECTIONS: 1 reported Fusobacterium infection

SOURCES/SPECIMENS: Feces, wound exudates, necrotic tissues, respiratory and urogenital specimens

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

SPECIAL HAZARDS: None

SECTION VII - RECOMMENDED PRECAUTIONS

CONTAINMENT REQUIREMENTS: Biosafety level 2 practices, containment equipment and facilities for activities involving infectious specimens and cultures of F. necrophorus

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 appropriately labelled

SECTION IX - MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION

Date prepared: May, 2001

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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