Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1
Department of Hygiene, Zoonoses and Epidemiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Beni-Suef University, Beni-Suef 62511, Egypt.
2
Department of Hygiene, Zoonoses and Epidemiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Beni-Suef University, 62511, Beni-Suef, Egypt.
Abstract
Biosafety precaution measures and their application among veterinary laboratories and clinics are crucial in order to safeguard researchers, veterinarians, and technicians from laboratory-acquired infections. This work was designated to assess the status of veterinary labs, clinics, and research institutes' biosafety and security protocols and the level of awareness and use of biosafety practices among researchers, veterinarians, and technicians in the three regions under investigation. In addition, staff should be aware of waste management practices. A structural questionnaire (n=84) was administered to respondents to obtain all data from respondents across targeted research labs belonging to universities, colleges, research institutes, and veterinary clinics about routine laboratory work and practices such as sampling collection and processing, knowledge of laboratory biosafety, availability and proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE), attitude towards and use of standard laboratory practices, as well as disposal of biological waste. Results evaluating biosafety precautionary measures in the three occupational categories clarified that 28 out of 41 labs of universities were uncategorized (68.2%), besides research institute labs (57.1%) and veterinary clinics (52.7%). The majority of waste disposal types in veterinary laboratories were biological waste (54.2%). Meanwhile, the highest percentage of waste disposal types in veterinary clinics was pathological waste (58.3%). In laboratories, 62.5% of the respondents had moderate knowledge about biosafety measures, and 50.0% in veterinary laboratories. In conclusion, improvement of biosafety and biosecurity protocols is needed to guarantee the health and safety of researchers, veterinarians, workers, their environment, and efficient responses to proper management of hazardous wastes.
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