Laboratory-associated infections and biosafety

The occurrence of laboratory-associated infections, which are caused by the handling of human or animal pathogens, represents a significant threat to the health and safety of laboratory workers and the general population. Such risks are present in clinical diagnostic and research laboratories, including those utilizing biotechnology on pathogenic organisms and industrial laboratories engaged in vaccine production. The investigation of these incidents is based on a retrospective analysis of published reports and voluntary questionnaires. The precise level of risk is challenging to ascertain, given the lack of a mandatory reporting system in the majority of countries. This indicates that many event involving exposure to contamination are not reported. The pathogens encountered in the primary published series include bacteria (e.g., Brucella spp., Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Salmonella spp., Shigella spp., Neisseria meningitidis, Coxiella burnetii), viruses (e.g., HBV, HCV, HIV, SARS-CoV-1, VEEV), and particularly dangerous viruses (e.g., hantavirus, filovirus, arenavirus), and less frequently fungi, parasites, and prions. Approximately 70% of these incidents are attributable to human errors. The primary modes of contamination are inhalation of aerosols and accidental parenteral injections. Additionally, contamination may occur during the handling of pathogens and the decontamination of waste, as well as during the inactivation processes of mass cultures utilized in vaccine production. It is therefore imperative that any incident or accident linked to contact with pathogens in laboratories be made compulsory to report. This will facilitate the systematic monitoring of these infections and data analysis for educational purposes, thereby enhancing prevention of laboratory accidents and leaks.