[MCOH-EH] Infection Control and Lab Safety for handling surgical specimens that may contain M. tuberculosis or other mycobacteria

[Galaid, Edward]

Our histopath techs have expressed concern over how, in retrospect, they should have handled surgical specimens that were subsequently found to contain M. tuberculosis.   I don't know if the specimens were placed directly into fixative at the time they were obtained, but I'll find out. I'm going to assume that formalin would inactivate live bacteria.  The techs are asking about periodic IGRAs.

If the specimen were transported to the lab in some other medium or saline or just in an empty container, what is the risk of generating a biohazardous aerosol while the specimen was being prepared for embedding and eventually sliced on a microtome?  I assume that the specimens are not routinely macerated or ground up or centrifuged.   I am also going to find out if they have a protocol is for handling specimens in hoods.  Are there other questions that should be addressed.

Thanks for the time to respond.

Ed

Edward I. Galaid, MD, MPH, FACOEM
ABIM, ABPM (OM)
Medical Director, Occupational Medicine
Roper Saint Francis Healthcare
Charleston, SC 29401
Chair, Public Safety Medicine Section, American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
Special Expert, NFPA Fire Service Occupational Safety & Health (FIX-AAA) Committee
843-402-5053



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