Laboratory Animal Care and Use Program and Facilities

ALAT Chapter 8

Housekeeping Tasks and Contamination Control in an

Animal Facility

Dianne Harrison, Supervisor QA Lab

Laboratory Animal Care and Use Program and Facilities

ALAT Chapter 8

Microorganisms

Invisible to the naked eye Need a microscope to

see Most common we deal with? Bacteria, Virus, Fungi,

Protozoa

Laboratory Animal Care and Use Program and Facilities

ALAT Chapter 8

What are PATHOGENS? Microorganisms that can cause disease

• Pathogens can survive in a host or for long periods outside the body on surfaces

Laboratory Animal Care and Use Program and Facilities

ALAT Chapter 8 What are pathogens that have a tough outer covering to survive hazardous environments? Spores

Some characteristics of spores

Difficult to kill Highly resistant to: Dryness Chemicals Heat

Laboratory Animal Care and Use Program and Facilities

ALAT Chapter 8 What are the three processes used to either remove or kill microorganisms? ♦ Sanitization ♦ Disinfection ♦ Sterilization

Laboratory Animal Care and Use Program and Facilities

ALAT Chapter 8

What is wrong with this picture?

Always wear proper PPE • Eye protection • Plastic Apron to protect

clothing • Chemical resistant or

heat resistant gloves

Where are her gloves?

Laboratory Animal Care and Use Program and Facilities

ALAT Chapter 8 What guidelines do you follow when preparing chemical solutions from stock bottles? Follow Instructions on Bottle or SOP

Laboratory Animal Care and Use Program and Facilities

ALAT Chapter 8 Be careful in mixing chemicals. Can deactivate chemicals Can cause toxic compound and fumes Hazardous to animals and staff Contents can splash

Normally Clorox does not foam

Glug, Glug, Glug

Laboratory Animal Care and Use Program and Facilities

ALAT Chapter 8

3 things to remember about chemical storage If transferred to another container, clearly label with the name, the date, and any other significant information. Never use unlabeled containers Always read label first – containers look similar

Laboratory Animal Care and Use Program and Facilities

ALAT Chapter 8

What is the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) used for?

It will provide the information on how to safely

handle and work with a substance

Laboratory Animal Care and Use Program and Facilities

ALAT Chapter 8

What does the process of Sanitation do?

Reduce the number of microorganisms to an acceptable level

It important to remove organic matter? May inactivate the chemical

used May shield microorganisms

from contact

Laboratory Animal Care and Use Program and Facilities

ALAT Chapter 8

What is the sanitation cleaning process?

Remove dirt, hair, dust, saliva, blood, feces, and urine from surfaces.

Wash with detergents Rinse with a chemical sanitizer or water at 180 °F

(82 °C).

Laboratory Animal Care and Use Program and Facilities

ALAT Chapter 8 What is the process that destroys microorganisms or inhibits their growth or activity? Disinfection They are classified by Whether they kill or inhibit growth of organism

Laboratory Animal Care and Use Program and Facilities

ALAT Chapter 8

What do the suffix's “stat” or “-static” mean when added to a word? Inhibit growth And what is it when it is written “-cide” or “-cidal” Kill

What is important when working with Spores? Resistant to many chemicals and difficult to kill. Only sporicidal will actually kill spores.

Laboratory Animal Care and Use Program and Facilities

ALAT Chapter 8

When choosing a disinfectant: • What- Pathogen to be disinfected? virus, bacteria,

spores • Where- Item to be disinfected? Floor, food bowl

• How- Ease of use? Does it need to sit for long

periods (contact time)

• Cost of the disinfectant? ↑cost not always best Not always an issue with ULAR

Laboratory Animal Care and Use Program and Facilities

ALAT Chapter 8

One other – what else does it hurt or kill? What species does it affect.

• Some chemicals are not used with certain animals • Ex. Phenols (Lysol and Pine Sol) with birds, cats,

reptiles

Laboratory Animal Care and Use Program and Facilities

ALAT Chapter 8

What are some common disinfectants? Bleach- Sodium hypochlorite (most often used) Does not loosen dirt – need to do that first

Quaternary ammonium compounds- NPD selectively effective mixing w/ detergents reduces it disinfectant ability

Isopropyl alcohol The main disadvantages are that it is flammable, and cannot be diluted

Laboratory Animal Care and Use Program and Facilities

ALAT Chapter 8

What does Sterilization do? Destroys all microorganisms on, and sometimes

inside, an object

What is the Best method to use? Autoclave/Sterilizer

This is a closed system that uses high steam

pressure and high temperatures for a selected period of time.

Laboratory Animal Care and Use Program and Facilities

ALAT Chapter 8

Alternative methods of sterilization Irradiation, dry heat sterilization Ethylene oxide or hydrogen peroxide gas

sterilizers chemical ( cold) sterilization

Laboratory Animal Care and Use Program and Facilities

Cleaning Animal Rooms and Equipment

Frequency: OVERALL - Must be regularly cleaned and sanitized to maintain an appropriate environment and minimize the potential for contamination. Who sets the schedule of cleaning?

The supervisor or facility manager OR

Laboratory Animal Care and Use Program and Facilities

Cleaning Animal Rooms and Equipment

STEPS: Appropriate chemicals used Sanitation logs followed and signed Monitoring of sanitation process 1. Visually 2. Testing the effects of equipment cleaning should be documented RODAC Plates and ATP Swabs

Laboratory Animal Care and Use Program and Facilities

Cleaning Animal Rooms and Equipment

Preparation

• Follow the established room order for cleaning. 1-6 • Proper PPE must be worn for cleaning tasks

Hearing protection too. • Foot baths may be used as part of decontamination

procedures.

Laboratory Animal Care and Use Program and Facilities

Cleaning Animal Rooms and Equipment

Tasks • Clean caging according to required times set BE CAREFUL TO REMOVE ANIMALS BEFORE CLEANING What must be cleaned on a regular schedule? Walls, ceilings, lights, and other exposed surfaces (floors) Why do you clean room vents? clogged vents reduce air circulation, which can affect animal

health. How should mops be stored? Hanging upside down to dry

Laboratory Animal Care and Use Program and Facilities

Cleaning Animal Rooms and Equipment

According to the ________cages should be changed often enough “to provide a healthy environment for an animal, according to its normal behavior and Physiological characteristics The GUIDE

What sets the frequency of cleaning and the # of animals housed in a cage? Species Cage size/type Type of bedding

Laboratory Animal Care and Use Program and Facilities

ALAT Chapter 8

Why do we autoclave some supplies such as cage setups , enrichment items and water bottles? They are being used in a pathogen free area What animals require daily bedding replacement and cleaning? • swine, • small ruminants, • dogs, • cats, and • nonhuman primates

Laboratory Animal Care and Use Program and Facilities

Cage Wash

Who sets the minimum cleaning standards for large animal caging? AWR What does AWR stand for? Animal Welfare Regulation Why do you use Descalers for in cage wash? Help remove urine scale What do you do with feeders and dishes after they have been scraped? Soak in disinfectant

Laboratory Animal Care and Use Program and Facilities

Cage Wash

What is a problem with this type of equipment?

IF there is even the slightest deviation on positioning the robot will cease to operate

Laboratory Animal Care and Use Program and Facilities

Cage Wash

Water bottles – what may you have to do to get them clean? Soak How do you make sure the automatic watering systems are cleaned in a rack? Flush them at the station after they have been

washed.

Laboratory Animal Care and Use Program and Facilities

Monitoring Sanitation

Laboratory Animal Care and Use Program and Facilities

Monitoring Sanitation

• RODAC Plates and ATP Swabs

Laboratory Animal Care and Use Program and Facilities

Monitoring Sanitation Monitoring of cage wash operations typically includes which of the following? Presence of bacteria on surfaces before cleaning

cages Cage wash water temperature Presence of bacteria on surfaces of cages during

the wash cycle Presence of bacteria on surfaces of cleaned

cages

Laboratory Animal Care and Use Program and Facilities

Waste management What are the two types of waste? General and Hazardous Why do we handle each differently Potential pathogens and aesthetics Who handles radioactive hazardous waste? trained personnel What is difference in how general waste and hazardous waste are disposed of? Haz- labeled, stored separate, picked up and and

rendered safe

Laboratory Animal Care and Use Program and Facilities

Waste Management Who coordinates the disposal of hazardous waste? Facility EHS Are carcasses hazardous waste? Yes, biological waste, potentially hazardous

Laboratory Animal Care and Use Program and Facilities

Pest Control Why do we have pest control? Carry Infectious parasites How do pest enter the building? Feed, bedding, humans and other animals, cracks

and small openings in building How do we prevent them? Good housekeeping program and proper waste

management

Laboratory Animal Care and Use Program and Facilities

Pest Control What are parts of a good pest control system? • Examine all feed and bedding shipments • Keep areas clean • Properly storing and disposing of feed and bedding • Keep exterior doors and windows closed • Sealing cracks • Capture all wild rodents that enter the facility, remove and possibly test for pathogens

Laboratory Animal Care and Use Program and Facilities

Pest Control Who can apply pesticides? Skilled and experienced personnel What is the main concern with using pesticides? They must not be allowed to come in contact with

the animals and all that involves What chemicals are normally used? Boric acid and Amorphous silica

Laboratory Animal Care and Use Program and Facilities

LAST QUESTION

How do I know you will pass this portion of the ALAT exams? ITS YOUR JOB AND YOU DO IT EVERY DAY