Aerosol Information and Courses from MediaLab, Inc.
These are the MediaLab courses that cover Aerosol and links to relevant pages within the course.
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| Which of the following sources is most likely to result in an infection from the AIDS virus: | View Page |
| Which one of the following statements about Coxiella burnetii is not true: | View Page |
| Biological Agents Biological agents are organisms or toxins that can kill or incapacitate people, live stock, and crops. The three basic groups of biological agents that would likely be used as weapons are bacteria, viruses, and toxins. Biological agents can be dispersed as aerosols or airborne particles. | View Page |
| Agent: Botulism (bacterium) Most likely means of dissemination: Aerosol (eating contaminated food)Primary route of entry: Inhalation (oral)General signs and symptoms: Difficulty with speaking, swallowing, or blurred or double vision, drooping eyelids (ptosis), dilated pupils, dry mouth, decreased gag reflex, weakening of the reflexes (hyporeflexia), abnormal sensations such as numbness, prickling, tingling, and arm or leg weakness.Botulism is caused by a neurotoxin and technically could be classified as a chemical WMD. For our discussion it is placed under biological agents because the toxin is derived from a bacterium. Botulism is potentially life-threatening, producing a characteristic clinical picture of muscular paralysis leading to respiratory failure. Photo courtesy of the CDC archives. | View Page |
| Chemical Agents Chemical warfare agents are poisonous vapors, aerosols, liquids, or solids that have toxic effects on people, animals or plants. They can be released in a number of ways such as by bombs or sprayed from aircraft. Some chemical agents are odorless and tasteless. They can have an immediate effect (such as a few seconds to a few minutes), or a delayed effect (from several hours to several days). Even though chemical agents have the potential to be lethal, they are difficult to deliver in lethal concentrations, particularly in outdoor situations where they tend to dissipate rapidly. | View Page |
| Responding to an Alarm If you receive an alert that an aerosol device was triggered or that a biological agent was released in the area: Make sure any fans are turned off. Leave the area immediately. Close the door to the area to keep others out. Notify your supervisor or emergency personnel immediately. Shut down the air handling system in the building. Make a list of all persons that were in the area to give to authorities if requested. | View Page |
| What if: Chemical Attack A chemical attack involves poisonous vapors, aerosols, liquids, or compounds. A terrorist might spread harmful chemicals with a bomb; spray from aircraft, boats, or vehicles; pour the chemicals into water or onto food; or leave a container of poisonous chemical in a confined public space. | View Page |
| Procedures with Increased TB Risk Some procedures increase the potential for TB risk because they create aerosols. They include: Sputum induction and aerosol treatments Bronchoscopy Endotracheal intubation and suctioning Autopsy Microbiology processing TB specimens Surgical drainage of TB abscesses | View Page |
| TB Infection Control in the Laboratory The laboratory director is responsible for the development of a risk-based infection control plan for the laboratory.The personnel are trained in methods that minimize the production of aerosols.A respirator is used when performing procedures that can result in aerosolization outside a biological safety cabinet.Personal protective equipment specified in the infection control plan is used.Disposable gloves are worn for all laboratory procedures. | View Page |
| Which of the following secondary barriers are recommended for microbiology laboratories that work with Biosafety level 3 agents (e.g., Mycobacterium tuberculosis)? | View Page |
| Biosafety Level 3 Biosafety level 3 practices, safety equipment, and facility design and construction are applicable to microbiology laboratories that work with indigenous or exotic agents with a potential for respiratory transmission, and which may cause serious and potentially lethal infection. Mycobacterium tuberculosis is assigned to this biosafety level. At biosafety level 3, laboratory manipulations should be performed in a Class l or Class ll biosafety cabinet (BSC) or other physical containment device. Secondary barriers include controlled access to the laboratory and ventilation requirements that minimize the release of infectious aerosols from the laboratory. Secondary barriers should include self-closing double-door access and negative airflow into the laboratory. Exhausted air must not be recirculated. | View Page |