There has been an outbreak linked to Salmonella Typhimurium from microbiological laboratories in 16 states, including Georgia, in 2017. This continues to indicate that laboratory-associated salmonellosis is a public health problem and that proper microbiological techniques should be used. Many of the people who became ill reported not washing hands, not wearing PPE, and using the same writing utensils and/or notebooks outside of the laboratory.
The CDC has an “Advice to Students and Employees in Microbiology Laboratories” web page dedicated to decreasing these exposures. Key takeaways include:
- Wash your hands after removing your gloves and before leaving the laboratory.
- Do not bring personal items in the labs including cell phones, purses, pens, and notebooks.
- Do not touch your face, eyes, or mouth while in the lab.
- Use nonpathogenic or attenuated bacterial strains when possible.
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