NAME: Actinobacillus spp.
SYNONYM OR CROSS REFERENCE: Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans, localized juvenile periodontitis
CHARACTERISTICS: Small, nonmotile, nonencapsulated, gram-negative coccobacilli or rods
PATHOGENICITY: Occurs as a normal inhabitant of human respiratory tract; impaired host defense can lead to localized juvenile periodontitis; cases of subacute bacterial endocarditis and abscess formation also described
EPIDEMIOLOGY: Worldwide; common in human mouths
HOST RANGE: Humans
INFECTIOUS DOSE: Not known
MODE OF TRANSMISSION: By direct contact with saliva (i.e. kissing)
INCUBATION PERIOD: Not known
COMMUNICABILITY: Presumably while lesions are present
RESERVOIR: Humans (mucous membrane of respiratory tract)
ZOONOSIS: None
VECTORS: None
DRUG SUSCEPTIBILITY: Sensitive to tetracycline, metronidazole
DRUG RESISTANCE: Penicillin; resistance to metronidazole is on the rise
SUSCEPTIBILITY TO DISINFECTANTS: Susceptible to 70% ethanol, 2% glutaraldehyde, 1% sodium hypochlorite
PHYSICAL INACTIVATION: Heating at 121°C for 15 minutes under pressure
SURVIVAL OUTSIDE HOST: Survives for less than 24 hours when dried on paper
SURVEILLANCE: Monitor for symptoms; confirm by bacterial isolation on blood agar and biochemical testing
FIRST AID/TREATMENT: Administer appropriate drug therapy
IMMUNIZATION: None available
PROPHYLAXIS: None available
LABORATORY-ACQUIRED INFECTIONS: None reported to date
SOURCES/SPECIMENS: Saliva, gingival scraping
PRIMARY HAZARDS: Accidental parenteral inoculation; droplet exposure of the mucous membranes
SPECIAL HAZARDS: None
CONTAINMENT REQUIREMENTS: Biosafety level 2 practices and containment equipment for all activities involving bacterial cultures and potentially infectious body fluids or tissues
PROTECTIVE CLOTHING: Laboratory coat; gloves when skin contact with infectious material is unavoidable
OTHER PRECAUTIONS: None
SPILLS: Allow aerosols to settle; wearing protective clothing cover the spill with absorbent paper and apply 1% sodium hypochlorite, starting at the perimeter and working towards the centre; allow sufficient contact time (30 min) before clean up
DISPOSAL: Decontaminate all wastes before disposal; steam sterilization, chemical disinfection, incineration
STORAGE: In sealed containers that are appropriately labelled
Date prepared: November 1999
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