Burkholderia Mallei
Burkholderia (Pseudomonas) Mallei
MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEET – INFECTIOUS SUBSTANCES
SECTION I – INFECTIOUS AGENT
NAME: Burkholderia (Pseudomonas) mallei
SYNONYM OR CROSS REFERENCE: Glanders, Malleomyces mallei, Farcy, Malleus; formerly classified with Pseudomonas
CHARACTERISTICS: Gram-negative rods, aerobic, nonmotile, bipolar staining, nonpigmented
SECTION II – HEALTH HAZARD
PATHOGENICITY: Appears in three forms: a chronic pulmonary form with cough, mucopurulent discharge; Farcy, a form characterized by multiple abscesses in the skin, subcutaneous tissues and lymphatics; an acute septicemic form with fever, chills, prostration and death in 7-10 days
EPIDEMIOLOGY: Has disappeared from most regions of the world; enzootic foci in Asia and eastern Mediterranean countries; sporadic cases in the Western hemisphere in those whose occupations involve contact with infected equines or work in laboratories
HOST RANGE: Equines, especially horses and mules; humans are accidental hosts
INFECTIOUS DOSE: Not known
MODE OF TRANSMISSION: Direct contact with nasal secretion of equines; inhalation of aerosols
INCUBATION PERIOD: 1-14 days
COMMUNICABILITY: Handling cultures shown to be high risk for infection
SECTION III – DISSEMINATION
RESERVOIR: Environmental organism found in soil and water; horses, mules, donkeys
ZOONOSIS: Yes, direct or indirect contact of mucous membrane with lesion discharges of infected animals
VECTORS: None
SECTION IV – VIABILITY
DRUG SUSCEPTIBILITY: Sensitive to ceftazidime, imipenem, doxycycline, minocycline, ciprofloxacin, gentamicin
DRUG RESISTANCE: Tetracyclines
SUSCEPTIBILITY TO DISINFECTANTS: Susceptible to many disinfectants; 1% sodium hypochlorite, 70% ethanol, 2% glutaraldehyde
PHYSICAL INACTIVATION: Inactivated by heating at 55°C for 10 min; sensitive to UV irradiation
SURVIVAL OUTSIDE HOST: Survives in water at room temperature up to 30 days
SECTION V – MEDICAL
SURVEILLANCE: Monitor for symptoms and isolate patients; use mallein in intrapalpebral test to detect infected equines for slaughter; isolate and characterize organism to confirm
FIRST AID/TREATMENT: Administer antibiotic therapy
IMMUNIZATION: None available
PROPHYLAXIS: None
SECTION VI – LABORATORY HAZARDS
LABORATORY-ACQUIRED INFECTIONS: Twenty cases were reported with 7 deaths up to 1976; a centrifuge accident led to 4 cases with 1 death; six cases were reported due to mouth pipetting; one USA case reported in May 2000, researcher working on a vaccine for glanders
SOURCES/SPECIMENS: Sputum, blood, wound exudate
PRIMARY HAZARDS: Direct contact with cultures and infectious materials from human, animals; exposure to infectious aerosols and droplets; ingestion; parenteral inoculation
SPECIAL HAZARDS: Infected laboratory animals
SECTION VII – RECOMMENDED PRECAUTIONS
CONTAINMENT REQUIREMENTS: Biosafety level 3 practices and containment for activities utilizing infectious body fluids, tissues and cultures; Agriculture Canada may impose additional requirements or restrictions on the use of this agent
PROTECTIVE CLOTHING: Laboratory coat; gloves and gown with ties in back and tight wrist when working with infectious materials
OTHER PRECAUTIONS: Heavy protective gloves and face shields to protect from infectious droplets and tissue fragments when working with infectious animals; appropriate protection from aerosols
SECTION VIII – HANDLING INFORMATION
SPILLS: Allow aerosols to settle; wear protective clothing, gently cover spill with paper towels and apply 1% sodium hypochlorite, starting at perimeter and working towards the centre; allow sufficient contact time (30 min) and clean area
DISPOSAL: Decontaminate all wastes before disposal; steam sterilization, incineration, chemical disinfection
STORAGE: In sealed containers that are appropriately labelled and stored in a level 3 facility
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
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