Chlamydia trachomatis - Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)

 

MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEET - INFECTIOUS SUBSTANCES

SECTION I - INFECTIOUS AGENT

NAME: Chlamydia trachomatis

SYNONYM OR CROSS REFERENCE: TRIC agents, Bedsonia

CHARACTERISTICS: Gram negative bacilli, obligate intracellular bacteria, non-motile

SECTION II - HEALTH HAZARD

PATHOGENICITY: Causes lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV), trachoma and inclusion conjunctivitis; nongonococcal urethritis, epididymitis, cervicitis, urethritis, infant pneumonia, pelvic inflammatory diseases (PID), Reiter's syndrome (oligoarthritis) and neonatal conjunctivitis

EPIDEMIOLOGY: Worldwide; still endemic in impoverished parts of dry hot Mediterranean countries and Far East, and among American Indians; C. trachomatis is the most common sexually transmitted bacterial agent

HOST RANGE: Humans

INFECTIOUS DOSE: Not known

MODE OF TRANSMISSION: Direct contact with discharges from infected persons, or materials soiled therewith; venereal transmission

INCUBATION PERIOD: 7 to 14 days for genital infection; 5 to 12 days for infant conjunctivitis; 6 to 19 days for adult conjunctivitis; 3 to 30 days for lymphogranuloma venereum; 5 to 12 days for trachoma

COMMUNICABILITY: Unknown for genital disease

SECTION III - DISSEMINATION

RESERVOIR: Humans

ZOONOSIS: None

VECTORS: None

SECTION IV - VIABILITY

DRUG SUSCEPTIBILITY: Resistant to penicillin; sensitive to doxycycline, tetracycline, erythromycin, and azithromycin

SUSCEPTIBILITY TO DISINFECTANTS: Susceptible to 1% sodium hypochlorite, 70% ethanol, 2% glutaraldehyde, formaldehyde

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

SURVIVAL OUTSIDE HOST: Carcass and organs - 1 to 7 days; glass - 30 min; water (50°C) - 30 min

SECTION V - MEDICAL

SURVEILLANCE: Demonstration of intracytoplasmic inclusion bodies in epithelial cells of conjunctiva or isolation of organism; examination of endocervical or intraurethral swab by direct immunofluorescence, EIA, DNA probe or cell culture

FIRST AID/TREATMENT: Flush exposed area of eye with water; topical or oral treatment with antibiotics

IMMUNIZATION: None

PROPHYLAXIS: Antibiotic prophylaxis

SECTION VI - LABORATORY HAZARDS

LABORATORY-ACQUIRED INFECTIONS: Chlamydia is the fifth most commonly reported infection (most are psittacosis); 6 reported cases of infection with C. trachomatis up to 1987 ; usually manifested as conjunctivitis, however severe cases of pneumonia have occurred through exposure to aerosols

SOURCES/SPECIMENS: Genital, bubo and conjunctival fluids

PRIMARY HAZARDS: Accidental parenteral inoculation; direct and indirect exposure of mucous membranes of the eyes, nose, and mouth to infected fluids (see above), cell culture materials and fluids from infected eggs; infectious aerosols are a potential source of infection

SPECIAL HAZARDS: None

SECTION VII - RECOMMENDED PRECAUTIONS

CONTAINMENT REQUIREMENTS: Biosafety level 2 practices and containment for the diagnostic examination of tissues known or potentially infected with C. trachomatis; Biosafety level 3 may be indicated for activities with high potential for droplet or aerosol production or production quantities

PROTECTIVE CLOTHING: Laboratory coat; gloves when direct contact with infectious materials is unavoidable; gown (tied wrists and tie in back) and gloves for work in biosafety cabinet

OTHER PRECAUTIONS: Do not rub eyes while handling chlamydia-infected materials

SECTION VIII - HANDLING INFORMATION

SPILLS: Allow aerosols to settle; wearing protective clothing, gently cover spill with 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 labelled appropriately

SECTION IX - MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION

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