Infectious Disease Index

Aspergillus spp.

MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEET - INFECTIOUS SUBSTANCES

SECTION I - INFECTIOUS AGENT

NAME: Aspergillus spp.

SYNONYM OR CROSS REFERENCE: Aspergillus fumigatus, A. niger, A. flavus, Aspergillosis, Farmer's lung

CHARACTERISTICS: Rapidly growing mold with septate hyphae and conidia; differentiation on basis of conidiophores and conidia SECTION II - HEALTH HAZARD

PATHOGENICITY: Variety of forms of infection depending on species involved, i.e. aspergilloma, aspergillosis pneumonia; aspergillosis is characterized by pulmonary infiltrates, eosinophilia and a rise in IgG; immunosuppressed individuals are prone to develop an acute pneumonia with multifocal infiltrates expanding to consolidation; dissemination to other organs (eg. cardiac valve) is common; most common cause of otomycosis; clinical manifestation and severity are largely determined by the general immunologic state of the patient

EPIDEMIOLOGY: Worldwide; uncommon; hospital air and airducts associated with nosocomial outbreaks; high aflatoxin and other mycotoxins produced by A. flavus correlated to heptocellular cancer in Africa and Southeast Asia

HOST RANGE: Humans

INFECTIOUS DOSE: Not known

MODE OF TRANSMISSION: Inhalation of airborne conidia

INCUBATION PERIOD: Variable; few days to weeks

COMMUNICABILITY: Not transmitted from person to person

SECTION III - DISSEMINATION

RESERVOIR: Widely distributed in nature; in soil, cereal grains, hay and other plant material or foodstuff

ZOONOSIS: None

VECTORS: None

SECTION IV - VIABILITY

DRUG SUSCEPTIBILITY: Susceptible to amphotericin B, itraconazole or voriconazole

SUSCEPTIBILITY TO DISINFECTANTS: Susceptible to 1 % sodium hypochlorite,, 2% glutaraldehyde; susceptibility to 70% ethanol and phenolics questionable (0.4% chlorine for 2 min has been recommended for surface disinfection of food samples)

PHYSICAL INACTIVATION: Inactivated by heat and irradiation

SURVIVAL OUTSIDE HOST: Spores are very resistant; survive in soil and decaying matter for a long time

SECTION V - MEDICAL

SURVEILLANCE: Monitor for symptoms; confirm microscopically using potassium hydroxide.

FIRST AID/TREATMENT: Administer amphotericin B; reduce immunosuppressive therapy where possible; surgical intervention in unusual "solid" lesion cases

IMMUNIZATION: None available

PROPHYLAXIS: None available

SECTION VI - LABORATORY HAZARDS

LABORATORY-ACQUIRED INFECTIONS: None reported to date (many non-laboratory occupationally-acquired infections have been reported).

SOURCES/SPECIMENS: Sputum; soil and environmental samples may contain infectious conidia

PRIMARY HAZARDS: Inhalation of conidia

SPECIAL HAZARDS: None

SECTION VII - RECOMMENDED PRECAUTIONS

CONTAINMENT REQUIREMENTS: Biosafety level 2 practices and containment facilities for activities involving the fungus or infectious body fluids and tissues

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 spill with absorbent paper towel and apply 1% sodium hypchlorite starting at the perimeter and working towards the centre; 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: 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