Streptococcus salivarius - Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)

 

MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEET - INFECTIOUS SUBSTANCES

SECTION I - INFECTIOUS AGENT

NAME: Streptococcus salivarius

SYNONYM OR CROSS REFERENCE: Viridans streptococci

CHARACTERISTICS: Gram-positive cocci ~ 2 µm occuring in pairs and short chains; facultative anaerobe; non- or alpha hemolytic on blood agar

SECTION II - HEALTH HAZARD

PATHOGENICITY: Organisms colonize upper respiratory tract within first few hours after birth and are normal inhabitant of oral cavity, oropharynx and upper respiratory tract; infrequently pathogenic; Viridans streptococci species cause most dental caries and are the most frequent cause of subacute native valve bacterial endocarditis, typically associated with dental procedures; S. salivarius may cause septicemia in neutropenic patients

EPIDEMIOLOGY: World wide; Dental caries common; persons with previously damaged heart valves are susceptible

HOST RANGE: Humans

INFECTIOUS DOSE: Not known

MODE OF TRANSMISSION: Normal inhabitant of upper respiratory tract - trauma (dental work, brushing teeth, etc.) results in organisms entering into the blood stream

INCUBATION PERIOD: Not known

COMMUNICABILITY: Not transferred from person-to-person

SECTION III - DISSEMINATION

RESERVOIR: Humans

ZOONOSIS: None

VECTORS: None

SECTION IV - VIABILITY

DRUG SUSCEPTIBILITY: Sensitive to penicillin and erythromycin

SUSCEPTIBILITY TO DISINFECTANTS: Susceptible to many disinfectants - 1% sodium hypochlorite and 70% ethanol, formaldehyde, glutaraldehyde, 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: Rim of drinking glass - at least 2 days; the organism has been isolated from the intestinal contents of houseflies

SECTION V - MEDICAL

SURVEILLANCE: Monitor for symptoms of infection; confirm bacteriologically and immunologically in acute stages

FIRST AID/TREATMENT: Antibiotic therapy with penicillin (erythromycin for those sensitive to penicillin)

IMMUNIZATION: None available

PROPHYLAXIS: Monthly administration of benzathine penicillin or daily use of oral penicillin for those at greatest risk of infection

SECTION VI - LABORATORY HAZARDS

LABORATORY-ACQUIRED INFECTIONS: 78 recorded cases of Streptococcus spp. with 4 deaths up to 1976

SOURCES/SPECIMENS: Blood, throat cultures, sputum, respiratory secretions

PRIMARY HAZARDS: Accidental parenteral inoculation

SPECIAL HAZARDS: None

SECTION VII - RECOMMENDED PRECAUTIONS

CONTAINMENT REQUIREMENTS: Biosafety level 2 practices, containment equipment and facilities for all activities involving known or potentially infected clinical materials or culture

PROTECTIVE CLOTHING: Laboratory coat; gloves when contact with infectious materials in 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, incineration

STORAGE: In sealed containers that are appropriately labelled

SECTION IX - MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION

Date prepared: April, 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