Ureaplasma urealyticum - Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)

 

MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEET - INFECTIOUS SUBSTANCES

SECTION I - INFECTIOUS AGENT

NAME: Ureaplasma urealyticum

SYNONYM OR CROSS REFERENCE: Nongonococcal urethritis, NGU; non specific urethritis, NSU

CHARACTERISTICS: Family Mycoplasmataceae; pleomorphic organisms that may appear as coccoid bodies, filaments and large multinucleoid forms; diameter 0.3 - 0.8 µm; lack cell wall but are bounded by a single triple-layered membrane; production of urease; 14 serotypes to date; filterable through 0.45 µm filter

SECTION II - HEALTH HAZARD

PATHOGENICITY: Most common cause of nongonococcal and nonchlamydial urethritis; characterized by urethral discharge, dysuria and meatal swelling: can cause chorioamnionitis and low birth weight; thought to be associated with pyelonephritis, Reiter's disease, spontaneous abortion; associated with congenital pneumonia and bacteremia in low weight infants with infection; associated with septic arthritis, subcutaneous abscess and chronic urethrocystits in immunocompromised; usually asymptomatic

EPIDEMIOLOGY: Worldwide; main reservoir of human strains is the genital tract of sexually active men and women; positive culture in majority of sexually active adults

HOST RANGE: Humans

INFECTIOUS DOSE: Not known

MODE OF TRANSMISSION: Primarily by sexual contact

INCUBATION PERIOD: Possibly 7-14 days or longer

COMMUNICABILITY: Not known; common for relapses to occur

SECTION III - DISSEMINATION

RESERVOIR: Humans

ZOONOSIS: None

VECTORS: None

SECTION IV - VIABILITY

DRUG SUSCEPTIBILITY: Sensitive to tetracycline, spectinomycin, quinolones

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

PHYSICAL INACTIVATION: Sensitive to heat

SURVIVAL OUTSIDE HOST: Sensitive to drying

SECTION V - MEDICAL

SURVEILLANCE: Monitor for symptoms; confirm by bacterial isolation and serology

FIRST AID/TREATMENT: Administer appropriate drug therapy

IMMUNIZATION: None available

PROPHYLAXIS: None available

SECTION VI - LABORATORY HAZARDS

LABORATORY-ACQUIRED INFECTIONS: None reported to date

SOURCES/SPECIMENS: Genital tract specimens

PRIMARY HAZARDS: Accidental parenteral inoculation

SPECIAL HAZARDS: None

SECTION VII - RECOMMENDED PRECAUTIONS

CONTAINMENT REQUIREMENTS: Biosafety level 2 practices and containment equipment for all activities involving the bacteria or potentially contaminated tissues or body fluids

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

OTHER PRECAUTIONS: None

SECTION VIII - HANDLING INFORMATION

SPILLS: Allow aerosols to settle; wearing protective clothing gently cover the spill with absorbent paper towel and apply 1% sodium hypochlorite starting at the perimeter and working towards the center; 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

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