title: Survey of laboratory-acquired infections around the world in biosafety level 3 and 4 laboratories.
abstract: Laboratory-acquired infections due to a variety of bacteria, viruses, parasites, and fungi have been described over the last century, and laboratory workers are at risk of exposure to these infectious agents. However, reporting laboratory-associated infections has been largely voluntary, and there is no way to determine the real number of people involved or to know the precise risks for workers. In this study, an international survey based on volunteering was conducted in biosafety level 3 and 4 laboratories to determine the number of laboratory-acquired infections and the possible underlying causes of these contaminations. The analysis of the survey reveals that laboratory-acquired infections have been infrequent and even rare in recent years, and human errors represent a very high percentage of the cases. Today, most risks from biological hazards can be reduced through the use of appropriate procedures and techniques, containment devices and facilities, and the training of personnel.
authors.affiliation: URMITE, CNRS UMR 7278, IRD 198, Inserm 1095, Aix Marseille Université, IHU Méditerranée Infection, 27 bd Jean Moulin, 13005, Marseille, France.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Wurtz
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Medical School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Papa
authors.affiliation: International Burch University of Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina.|Department of Medical Science, Academy of Sciences and Arts of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hukic
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Infectious Diseases L. Spallanzani, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Di Caro
authors.affiliation: ERRIT-IRBA, HIA Laveran, Centre National de Référence des Arboviroses, 13384, Marseille, France.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Leparc-Goffart
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire MiVEGEC, UMR IRD 224 CNRS 5290 UMI, 911 Av. Agropolis, 34394, Montpellier Cedex 5, France.|International Center for Medical Research of Franceville, BP769, Franceville, Gabon.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Leroy
authors.affiliation: Unit of Clinical Microbiology, Regional Reference Centre for Microbiological Emergencies (CRREM), St Orsola-Malpighi University Hospital, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Landini
authors.affiliation: Institute of Virology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, 845 05, Bratislava, Slovak Republic.
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Sekeyova
authors.affiliation: Departments of Pathology and Microbiology & Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Dumler
authors.affiliation: Cantacuzino National Institute of Research, Bucharest, Romania.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bădescu
authors.affiliation: IRTA, Centre de Recerca en Sanitat Animal (CReSA, IRTA-UAB), Campus de la Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193, Bellaterra, Spain.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Busquets
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, Via Gabelli 63, 35100, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Calistri
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, Via Gabelli 63, 35100, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Parolin
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, Via Gabelli 63, 35100, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Palù
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, National Center of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Sofia, Bulgaria.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Christova
authors.affiliation: Centre National de Référence des Francisella, Laboratoire de Bactériologie, Département des Agents Infectieux, Institut de Biologie et Pathologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Grenoble, Université Joseph Fourier, Grenoble, France.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maurin
authors.affiliation: URMITE, CNRS UMR 7278, IRD 198, Inserm 1095, Aix Marseille Université, IHU Méditerranée Infection, 27 bd Jean Moulin, 13005, Marseille, France.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: La Scola
authors.affiliation: URMITE, CNRS UMR 7278, IRD 198, Inserm 1095, Aix Marseille Université, IHU Méditerranée Infection, 27 bd Jean Moulin, 13005, Marseille, France. didier.raoult@gmail.com.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Raoult
mesh_terms: D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003264:Containment of Biohazards; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006801:Humans; D007753:Laboratories / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000821:virology; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000067393:Personal Protective Equipment / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012449:Safety; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires