1988 Agent Summary Statement for Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Report on Laboratory-Acquired Infection with Human Immunodeficiency Virus [MMWR, Vol 37 No.S-4]

12

MMWR

April 1, 1988

infection or for whom infection might be unusually hazardous are not
allowed in the animal room.
5. The laboratory or animal-facility director establishes policies and procedures whereby only persons who have been advised of the potential hazard
and who meet any specific requirements (e.g., vaccination) may enter the
animal room.
6. When an infectious agent in use in the animal room requires special-entry
provisions (e.g., vaccination), a hazard warning sign (incorporating the
universal biohazard symbol) is posted on the access door to the animal
room. The hazard warning sign identifies the infectious agent, lists the
name and telephone number of the animal-facility supervisor or other
responsible person(s), and indicates the special requirement(s) for entering
the animal room.
7. Special care is taken to avoid contaminating skin with infectious material;
gloves should be worn when handling infected animals and when skin
contact with infectious materials is unavoidable.
8. All waste from the animal room is appropriately decontaminated-preferably by autoclaving-before being disposed of. Infected animal carcasses
are incinerated after being transported from the animal room in leakproof,
covered containers.
9. Hypodermic needles and syringes are used only for the parenteral injection
or aspiration of fluids from laboratory animals and diaphragm bottles. Only
needle-locking syringes or disposable syringe-needle units (i.e., the needle
is integral to the syringe) are used for the injection or aspiration of
infectious fluids. A needle should not be bent, sheared, replaced in the
sheath or guard, or removed from the syringe following use. The needle
and syringe should be promptly placed in a puncture-resistant container
and decontaminated, preferably by autoclaving, before being discarded or
reused.
10. If floor drains are provided, the drain taps are always filled with water or a
suitable disinfectant.
11. When appropriate, considering the agents handled, baseline serum samples from animal-care and other at-risk personnel are collected and stored.
Additional serum samples may be collected periodically, depending on the
agents handled or the function of the facility.
C. Containment equipment
Biological safety cabinets, other physical-containment devices, and/or
personal-protection devices (e.g., respirators, face shields) are used when
procedures with a high potential for creating aerosols are conducted. These
include necropsy of infected animals, harvesting of infected tissues or fluids
from animals or eggs, intranasal inoculation of animals, and manipulation of
high concentrations or large volumes of infectious materials.
D. Animal facilities
1. The animal facility is designed and constructed to facilitate cleaning and
housekeeping.
2. A sink for washing hands is available in the room that houses infected
animals.
3. If the animal facility has windows that open, they are fitted with fly screens.