Welcome to microbiology! Microorganisms are essential to life on earth. They provide many benefits to our planet and us. Nevertheless, they may cause disease in living organisms. Thus, the study of microbiology laboratory procedures is not without risks. These risks are minimized when you are aware of the rules of laboratory safety and make them a habit. If you regularly follow the rules, you should do well in the lab and enjoy the experience. It is a fascinating world you are about to enter!

Some individuals are at increased risk of infection. These include those with diabetes, undergoing chemotherapy, who are pregnant, taking immunosuppressive drugs (such as corticosteroids), who are HIV positive, and/or those with an autoimmune disease. If you have any reason to suspect you are at higher risk of infection than the average student, you should discuss the situation with your physician and/or your instructor.

biological SAFETY LEVELS (BSL)

Throughout the lab exercises in this course, you will come in contact with a variety of different microorganisms.  Microorganisms used in the laboratory exercises are generally not very hazardous to humans however, it is critically important to learn how to properly work with microorganisms to ensure your safety. The CDC in cooperation with the National Institutes of Health (NIH), has developed standards to offer protection when using biological pathogens called Biological Safety Levels (BSL). BSL describes the minimum required containment measures that should be used to ensure safety when working with microorganisms. The BSL is determined by the characteristics of the microorganism being studied and includes level of knowledge of the microorganism, association with disease, mode of transmission, and the existence or absence of known vaccines or treatments for the disease. These measures are designed to reduce or eliminate exposure to potentially infectious microorganisms. BSL-1 and BSL-2 microorganisms and procedures will be used in the laboratory exercises in this course. Use the navigation on the left to locate a list of organisms used in the course along with their BSL.

general safety procedures

The following are OSHA (occupational health and safety administration)/CDC (centers for disease control and prevention)/ASM (American society for microbiology) guidelines for safety in the microbiology laboratory. READ AND FOLLOW THEM CAREFULLY. Anyone choosing to disregard these rules or who exhibits carelessness that endangers others risks immediate withdrawal from microbiology.

1. Visitors, including children, are not allowed in the microbiology lab at any time.
2. Read the day’s exercise and complete the pre-assessment questions and the online quiz BEFORE you come to lab. Lab exercises in this course contain multiple steps and reading through the entire exercise will prepare you to work more efficiently, safely, and eliminate mistakes due to lack of planning. 
3. Store all personal belongings in the storage spaces in the microbiology lab. Personal belongings cannot be on the laboratory bench when completing lab exercises.
4. Personal electronic devices (cell phones, iPads, laptops, smart watches, Fit bits) cannot be used when completing lab exercises.
5. Use only college provided writing utensils in the microbiology lab.
6. Do not smoke, eat, drink, apply cosmetics or lip balm in the lab. At all times keep your hands and fingers away from your face (especially your eyes and mouth). Do not handle contact lenses. Do not put pens, pencils or the bow of your glasses in your mouth. Do not chew on your fingernails. These items could become contaminated.
7. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water before and after completing a lab exercise. Pay special attention to the area under the fingernails and under rings. Turn the faucet off with a clean paper towel. Discard the paper towels in the regular trash.
8. Disinfect your lab bench with disinfectant before and after completing a lab exercise. Discard the paper towels in the regular trash.
9. Handle ALL microorganisms, whether classified as pathogen or not using the required safety procedures. Any microorganism can cause disease under the proper circumstances.
10. Always transport and keep cultures in a test tube rack, do not lay test tubes down on the table. Do not walk through the lab with an open culture dish or tube or a loop or pipette containing infectious material. Do not under any circumstances carry a culture out of the lab.
11. Be certain that a contaminated inoculating wire or loop is properly sterilized after use.
12. When you have completed a lab exercise please leave the microbiology lab the way you found it. Put everything back where you found them.

proper laboratory attire and PPE (personal protective equipment)

Proper laboratory attire must be worn when working in the lab:

• Long pants, no skin can be showing, so you may have to wear socks with your shoes. A skirt can be worn but it must fit close to the body and again no skin can be showing.
• Closed-toe shoes that are solid, not made of cloth, not perforated (no ballet flats) must be worn in the lab. The material of the shoe should not quickly absorb liquids nor allow the liquid to easily pass through.
• Hair that touches the shoulder or longer is considered long hair. Long hair must be tied back.

PPE must be worn when completing a laboratory exercise:

• A closed, long-sleeved laboratory coat must be worn in the lab and will be left in the lab between classes. If a culture is spilled, it is easier to disinfect the lab coat than your clothes. In addition, the lab coat should prevent permanent staining of your clothes with laboratory stains.
• Disposable gloves must be worn while working with live microbes or potentially hazardous materials. Write your first initial and last name using a permanent marker on every pair of gloves you use. Cover cuts or open wounds before putting on gloves. Remove gloves by pulling them inside out and discard in the biohazard trash.
• Eye protection.

BROKEN GLASS, chemicals, chemical spills, and FIRE

1. If a glass slide or test tube is broken, notify your instructor. Do not attempt to pick up broken glass with your fingers. Never throw broken glass in the trash. To properly dispose of the broken glass your instructor will use a dustpan and broom to gather the broken glass. The broken glass will be disposed of in the broken glass container. Cuts should be treated promptly.
2. Safety Data Sheets (SDS) of the chemicals used in the microbiology lab are in the SDS binder in the lab. The SDS sheets list the dangers, storage requirements, exposure treatment, and disposal instruction for the chemical.
3. In the event of a chemical spill, move away from the area and notify your instructor immediately. If a chemical is on the skin or eyes, continuously flush with water for 5 minutes and rinse from clothing. The emergency eyewash and shower are located inside the lab. Wear gloves when cleaning up potentially hazardous substances. Use water to flush the spill area if appropriate.
4. To avoid burns, be aware of the location of the Bacticinerator^® which is used in almost every lab exercise. The tunnel of a Bacticinerator^® reaches over 800°F.
5. If there is a fire please notify your instructor immediately. Your instructor will use the fire extinguisher in the lab to put out the fire and call for additional help if needed.

live microorganism (culture) spill

If living material is spilled notify your instructor immediately. To clean up the spill spray disinfectant on a paper towel and use it to cover the involved area. Allow the disinfectant to remain on the contaminated area for a minimum of 15 minutes. Dispose of the paper towels in the autoclave trash. An autoclave is a machine that uses a heat and pressure to sterilize (destroy all forms of microorganisms).

proper disposal of laboratory items

Do not discard contaminated materials in the regular trash. If you are uncertain of how or where to dispose of materials, ask your instructor for clarification.

1. All contaminated glass slides and cover slips should be disposed of in the used slide basin. The glass slides and cover slips in the used slide basin will be autoclaved.
2. Used cultures should be placed in the discard racks to be autoclaved.
3. Used Petri plates and swabs should be discarded in the autoclave trash.

SAFETY ON CAMPUS

CGCC emergency response information.

POST TEST

DISCOVERIES IN MICROBIOLOGY

DR. WILLIAM STEWART HALSTED

In 1889 American surgeon Dr. William Stewart Halsted came up with the idea for disposable gloves because of a request from Caroline Hampton, his surgical scrub nurse. Dr. Halsted was using a combination of carbolic acid and mercuric chloride as an antiseptic during his surgical procedures. Ms. Hampton complained that the chemicals were giving her a rash on her hands. Dr. Halsted reached out to the Goodyear Rubber Company with a design, and together they invented the world’s first pair of rubber gloves. Other staff and surgeons began wearing the gloves because of increased dexterity, not to prevent infections.