Page 149 - policy and procedure infection control

Policies and Procedures on Infection Control

2. Electric transfer loop incinerators may be used inside the biological safety
cabinet to reduce aerosol production.
3. Screw-capped tubes and bottles.

4. Autoclaves or other appropriate means to decontaminate infectious materials.
5. Petri dishes must be placed in racks or baskets, both for transport and
storage.
6. Plastics disposable Pasteur pipettes, whenever available, to avoid glass

7. Equipment such as autoclaves and biological safety cabinets must be
validated with appropriate methods before being taken into use.
Recertification should take place at regular intervals, according to the
manufacturer’s instructions.

6.10.6 Health And Medical Surveillance
The employing authority, through the laboratory director, is responsible for ensuring that
there is adequate surveillance of the health of laboratory personnel. The objective of such
surveillance is to monitor for occupationally acquired diseases. Appropriate activities to
achieve these objectives are:
1. Provision of active or passive immunization where indicated
2. Facilitation of the early detection of laboratory-acquired infections.
3. Exclusion of highly susceptible individuals (e.g. pregnant woman or immuno-
compromised individuals) from highly hazardous laboratory work.
4. Provision of effective personal protective equipment and procedures.
Guidelines for the surveillance of laboratory workers handling microorganism at Biosafety
Level 2
1. A pre-employment or pre-placement health check is necessary. The person’s medical
history should be recorded and a targeted occupational health assessment performed.

2. Records of illness and absence should be kept by the laboratory management

6.10.7 Waste Disposal and Decontamination
Identification and separation system for infectious materials and their containers should
be adopted. Categories should include:
1. Non-contaminated (non infectious) wastes can be reused or recycled or disposed of
as general, “household”.

2. Contaminated (infectious) “sharps” – hypodermic needles, scalpels, knives and broken
glass. These should always be collected in puncture-proof containers fitted with
covers and treated as infectious.
3. Contaminated material for decontamination by autoclaving and thereafter washing
and reuse or recycling.

138 Ministry of Health Malaysia