Biosafety Challenges

A Rational and Attainable A Rational and Attainable Approach to Successfully Approach to Successfully Implementing Biosafety in Implementing Biosafety in

Laboratory Settings Laboratory Settings

Worldwide.Worldwide. Anticipating Biosecurity Challenges of the Global Expansion of High Containment

Biological Laboratories Istanbul, Turkey11-13 July 2011

Barbara Johnson PhD, RBPBiosafety Biosecurity International

Biosafety ChallengesBiosafety Challenges Lack of fundingLack of funding Lack of reliable/maintained Lack of reliable/maintained infrastructureinfrastructure

Lack of containment equipmentLack of containment equipment Supply shortages/delayed shipmentsSupply shortages/delayed shipments Lack of trainingLack of training Other?Other?

Regardless of these challenges Regardless of these challenges the public health, medical, and the public health, medical, and

R&D mission continues.R&D mission continues.

BSL-3 Practices Enhance BSL-3 Practices Enhance SafetySafety

Training and proficiencyTraining and proficiency: good : good practices prevent exposurepractices prevent exposure

Control access to the lab:Control access to the lab: limit limit people in lab during workpeople in lab during work

Reducing community spreadReducing community spread: : designated lab over-clothes stay in designated lab over-clothes stay in the lab; should be decontaminated & the lab; should be decontaminated & laundered by the institutelaundered by the institute

BSL-3 Practices Enhance BSL-3 Practices Enhance SafetySafety

Autoclave availability and power:Autoclave availability and power: Can we Can we flame loops flame loops outsideoutside the BSC and place them in the BSC and place them in a sterile can in the BSC a sterile can in the BSC

Sharps cause many lab injuries:Sharps cause many lab injuries: Puncture- Puncture-proof containers proof containers near point ofnear point of use use ;; alternatives to commercial containersalternatives to commercial containers

Waste decontamination optionsWaste decontamination options: autoclave, : autoclave, chemical, burnchemical, burn

Reducing spill hazardReducing spill hazard: reusable/sealable : reusable/sealable container for within-room and room-to-room container for within-room and room-to-room transporttransport

Primary Containment Primary Containment ConsiderationsConsiderations

BSC: cost, space & power bumps are a BSC: cost, space & power bumps are a reality.reality.

Q: Is it infectious via the aerosol Q: Is it infectious via the aerosol route???route???

risk appropriate risk appropriate PPEPPE (respirator/mask, face (respirator/mask, face shield/goggles/gloves)... respirator reuse?shield/goggles/gloves)... respirator reuse?

cleaningcleaning surfaces and equipment surfaces and equipment can a can a ‘fan box’‘fan box’ (inward airflow, no HEPA) be (inward airflow, no HEPA) be vented to outside, pilot ongoing in Africavented to outside, pilot ongoing in Africa

flexible film isolatorsflexible film isolators for higher aerosol for higher aerosol hazardshazards

Adapting BSL-3 Design Adapting BSL-3 Design FeaturesFeatures

Gas decontamination v surface wipe Gas decontamination v surface wipe downdown for rooms and spaces with i.e. for rooms and spaces with i.e. bleachbleach

Directional airflow: Directional airflow: place wall place wall mounted exhaust fan at end of hall or mounted exhaust fan at end of hall or inside the ‘lab with greatest hazards’inside the ‘lab with greatest hazards’

Single-pass air or recirculate air Single-pass air or recirculate air from BSL-3???from BSL-3??? Air is not recirculated Air is not recirculated to lowerto lower containment levels- assess the risk (can containment levels- assess the risk (can it be HEPA filtered?)it be HEPA filtered?)

WHO LBM and CDC/NIH BMBLWHO LBM and CDC/NIH BMBL


Air changes/hrAir changes/hr 10-12 was based on labs w/volatile 10-12 was based on labs w/volatile chemicalschemicals

new minimum = 6 ACH for BSL-3 labs new minimum = 6 ACH for BSL-3 labs ((could be lesscould be less -depends on heat load, -depends on heat load, activities, is specific to the lab) activities, is specific to the lab)

Night, weekend, holidayNight, weekend, holiday: decrease the : decrease the conditioning of the air/lights to conditioning of the air/lights to reduce expensereduce expense the lab really should not be ‘turned the lab really should not be ‘turned off’ – overheating, mold, condensationoff’ – overheating, mold, condensation


N+1 systems:N+1 systems: are they needed/which are are they needed/which are neededneeded Systems and parts- local manufacture and Systems and parts- local manufacture and installers; expertise is nearby, spares are installers; expertise is nearby, spares are available available

Turnkey container labsTurnkey container labs: identify mission : identify mission needsneeds a clean room with lots of HEPAs = $$ and a clean room with lots of HEPAs = $$ and overkilloverkill

HEPAs need to be annually certifiedHEPAs need to be annually certified can exhaust air be vented away from public can exhaust air be vented away from public spaces and supply inlets (no re-entrainment)spaces and supply inlets (no re-entrainment)

Adapting ConstructionAdapting Construction

BSL2 BSL2 LaboratorieLaboratories s

Paint on gypsum board.Paint on gypsum board.

BSL3 BSL3 LaboratorieLaboratoriess

Epoxy based paint on gypsum Epoxy based paint on gypsum board. board.

Perimeter walls constructed of Perimeter walls constructed of epoxy based paint on poured in epoxy based paint on poured in place concrete... high end/high place concrete... high end/high cost- is it neededcost- is it needed

ABSL3 RoomsABSL3 Rooms Epoxy based paint on poured in Epoxy based paint on poured in place concrete. Concrete place concrete. Concrete because animal carts can damage because animal carts can damage walls- good SOPs can prevent walls- good SOPs can prevent damage too.damage too.

Adapting ConstructionAdapting Construction

BSL2 BSL2 LaboratorLaboratories ies

Vinyl Flooring Vinyl Flooring CleanabilityCleanability: Smooth, easily : Smooth, easily cleanable, soil and stain cleanable, soil and stain resistant composite material resistant composite material with integral cove base.with integral cove base.

BSL3 BSL3 LaboratorLaboratoriesies

Seamless Welded Vinyl Flooring Seamless Welded Vinyl Flooring Same basic characteristics as Same basic characteristics as above. Need for added durability above. Need for added durability depends on equipment.depends on equipment.

ABSL3 ABSL3 RoomsRooms

Epoxy Resin Flooring Epoxy Resin Flooring As above but resistant As above but resistant monolithic material- extremely monolithic material- extremely durable, esp. with heavy & durable, esp. with heavy & mobile equipment- what cages are mobile equipment- what cages are used/lots of stainless?used/lots of stainless?

No “Only One Correct No “Only One Correct Way”...Way”...

Biosafety is about risk Biosafety is about risk assessment and planning:assessment and planning:

prioritize the goals & needs prioritize the goals & needs achieve it by balancing the achieve it by balancing the available tools to reduce riskavailable tools to reduce risk

plan ahead for accident, illness or plan ahead for accident, illness or injuryinjury

FacilitiesEquipment

Practices / Protocols

Thank YouThank You

Barbara Johnson, PhD, RBPBarbara Johnson, PhD, RBP

[email protected]

Documents

Biosafety Challenges