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Proteus spp.

Proteus spp.

MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEET – INFECTIOUS SUBSTANCES

SECTION I – INFECTIOUS AGENT

NAME: Proteus spp.

SYNONYM OR CROSS REFERENCE: P. mirabilis, P. vulgaris, P. penneri, P. hauseri

CHARACTERISTICS: Gram-negative, motile, aerobic rod shaped bacilli, urease positive, characteristic swarming; part of the normal flora of the GI tract

SECTION II – HEALTH HAZARD

PATHOGENICITY: Chronic urinary tract infections, bacteremia, pneumonia and focal lesions in debilitated patients or those receiving intravenous infusions, neonatal meningoencephalitis, empyema, osteomyelitis, cystitis, pyelonephritis, prostatitis

EPIDEMIOLOGY: Worldwide; important cause of nosocomial infections acquired after antimicrobial therapy

HOST RANGE: Humans

INFECTIOUS DOSE: Unknown

MODE OF TRANSMISSION: Produces infections after leaving normal habitat in intestinal tract

INCUBATION PERIOD: Not well established

COMMUNICABILITY: Not transmitted from person-to-person

SECTION III – DISSEMINATION

RESERVOIR: Soil, water, sewage and part of normal flora of intestinal tract

ZOONOSIS: None

VECTORS: None

SECTION IV – VIABILITY

DRUG SUSCEPTIBILITY: Sensitive to very high concentrations of penicillin; usually sensitive to aminoglycosides and cephalosporins but drug susceptibility testing to specific antimicrobials needs to be done

DRUG RESISTANCE: Resistant to tetracycline; high level of ciprofloxacin resistance noted where use of agent is unrestricted; P. mirabilis is resistant to nitrofurantoin; P. penneri is more resistant to penicillin than the other strains

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

PHYSICAL INACTIVATION: Inactivated by 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 out of host, especially in areas where animal protein is decomposing (sewage, soil, water)

SECTION V – MEDICAL

SURVEILLANCE: Monitor for symptoms; culture of organism from blood, urine or exudates

FIRST AID/TREATMENT: Administer antibiotic therapy if necessary

IMMUNIZATION: None

PROPHYLAXIS: None

SECTION VI – LABORATORY HAZARDS

LABORATORY-ACQUIRED INFECTIONS: No reported laboratory-acquired infections with this organism

SOURCES/SPECIMENS: Blood, urine, wound exudates

PRIMARY HAZARDS: Accidental parenteral inoculation, exposure of mucous membranes and to droplets and aerosols, ingestion

SPECIAL HAZARDS: None

SECTION VII – RECOMMENDED PRECAUTIONS

CONTAINMENT REQUIREMENTS: Biosafety level 2 practices, containment equipment and facilities are recommended

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, 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

This MSDS / PSDS document, provided by Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), is offered here as a FREE public service to visitors of www.EHS.com. As outlined in this site’s Terms of Use, VelocityEHS is not responsible for the accuracy, content or any aspect of the information contained therein.


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