Moraxella spp. - Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)

 

MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEET - INFECTIOUS SUBSTANCES

SECTION I - INFECTIOUS AGENT

NAME: Moraxella spp.

SYNONYM OR CROSS REFERENCE: M. atlantae, M. bovis, M. canis, M. caprae, M. equi, M. lacunata, M. lincolni, M. nonliquefaciens, M. osloensis, M. phenylpyruvica, Kingella kingae

CHARACTERISTICS: Gram negative short rods, aerobic, non-motile, asaccharolytic coccobacilli, occurring in pairs and short chains

SECTION II - HEALTH HAZARD

PATHOGENICITY: Parasitic on human skin, mucous membranes; invasion of the mucous membranes causes respiratory disease; occular pathogen (4^th most common source of corneal infections); other complications include otitis media, endophthalmitis, bacteremia, septic arthritis, pneumonia, purulent pericarditis, meningitis

EPIDEMIOLOGY: Worldwide, especially in persons living under poor hygienic conditions where organism is easily spread (eg. conjunctivitis)

HOST RANGE: Humans, other mammals

INFECTIOUS DOSE: Not known

MODE OF TRANSMISSION: Direct contact of mucous membranes with infectious agent; opportunistic pathogen found as a normal inhabitant but may be a secondary invader in the respiratory tract

INCUBATION PERIOD: Not clearly defined

COMMUNICABILITY: Not usually transmitted from person-to-person

SECTION III - DISSEMINATION

RESERVOIR: Upper respiratory tract of mammals

ZOONOSIS: None

VECTORS: None

SECTION IV - VIABILITY

DRUG SUSCEPTIBILITY: Sensitive to penicillins, cephalosporins, tetracyclines, quinolones, aminoglycosides

DRUG RESISTANCE: 85 - 100% of the isolates are resistant to ampicillin and amoxicillin

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

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

SURVIVAL OUTSIDE HOST: Glass - 3 days; insects - 4 days

SECTION V - MEDICAL

SURVEILLANCE: None

FIRST AID/TREATMENT: Antibiotic therapy

IMMUNIZATION: None

PROPHYLAXIS: Not usually administered

SECTION VI - LABORATORY HAZARDS

LABORATORY-ACQUIRED INFECTIONS: No infections reported to date

SOURCES/SPECIMENS: Respiratory specimens, throat swabs, sputum

PRIMARY HAZARDS: Direct contact of mucous membranes with infectious materials; accidental parenteral inoculation; inhalation of infectious droplets

SPECIAL HAZARDS: None

SECTION VII - RECOMMENDED PRECAUTIONS

CONTAINMENT REQUIREMENTS: Biosafety level 2 practices, containment equipment and facilities for all activities involving known or potentially infectious specimens and cultures

PROTECTIVE CLOTHING: Laboratory coat; gloves when direct contact with infectious materials is unavoidable

OTHER PRECAUTIONS: Good personal hygiene and frequent hand washing (avoid rubbing eyes)

SECTION VIII - HANDLING INFORMATION

SPILLS: Allow aerosols to settle; wearing protective clothing, gently cover spill with paper towels 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: March, 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