Peptostreptococcus spp. - Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)

 

MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEET - INFECTIOUS SUBSTANCES

SECTION I - INFECTIOUS AGENT

NAME: Peptostreptococcus spp.

SYNONYM OR CROSS REFERENCE: P. anaerobius, P. lanceolatus, P. micros, P. parvulus, P. productus

CHARACTERISTICS: Gram-positive cocci; 0.3-2 µm in size; obligate anaerobes; non-spore forming; do not require fermentable carbohydrates; chemoorganotrophs; arranged in chains, pairs, tetrads or clumps

SECTION II - HEALTH HAZARD

PATHOGENICITY: Part of normal flora of the mouth, upper respiratory tract, large intestine; opportunistic pathogens causing soft tissue infections and bacteremias; causes a variety of infections (wound infections, gangrene, puerperal fever, appendicitis, pleurisy, sinusitis, osteomyelitis, diarrhea, dental infections); intra-abdominal mixed infections following surgery; intestinal perforation or cancer may lead to liver abscess

EPIDEMIOLOGY: Worldwide

HOST RANGE: Humans, lower animals

INFECTIOUS DOSE: Not known

MODE OF TRANSMISSION: Most frequently associated with trauma

INCUBATION PERIOD: Not known

COMMUNICABILITY: Not transmitted from person-to-person

SECTION III - DISSEMINATION

RESERVOIR: Humans, animals, soil

ZOONOSIS: None

VECTORS: None

SECTION IV - VIABILITY

DRUG SUSCEPTIBILITY: Susceptible to ßlactam antibiotics; new drugs linezolid and biapenem have proven efficacious

DRUG RESISTANCE: Inducible macrolide-lincosamide resistance, P. asacchorolyticus is most resistant to erythromycin; limited activity with quinolones

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

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: Survives well in nature, ie. soil

SECTION V - MEDICAL

SURVEILLANCE: Monitor for symptoms

FIRST AID/TREATMENT: Antibiotic therapy

IMMUNIZATION: None

PROPHYLAXIS: Not usually administered

SECTION VI - LABORATORY HAZARDS

LABORATORY-ACQUIRED INFECTIONS: No reported cases of laboratory infection with Peptostreptococcus spp.

SOURCES/SPECIMENS: Blood, feces, genital secretions, respiratory specimens, wound exudates, urine

PRIMARY HAZARDS: Hazard of infection is low, however, avoid accidental parenteral inoculation, ingestion, and inhalation of infectious droplets

SPECIAL HAZARDS: None

SECTION VII - RECOMMENDED PRECAUTIONS

CONTAINMENT REQUIREMENTS: Well designed laboratory with good microbiological practices; this level of containment does not allow for any additional risk that may present for those individuals who with pre-existing disease, compromised immunity or who are pregnant

PROTECTIVE CLOTHING: Laboratory coat; gloves when 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 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

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