OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH PROGRAM
FOR RESEARCH PERSONNEL WITH ANIMAL CONTACT
Individuals who work with or near animals in a modern research setting are at risk for
animal-related allergy, injury, and infectious disease. The risks are variable depending
upon the species being used, the source of the animals, the quantity and
quality of contact with or exposure to the animals, and other factors.
The quality of today’s research animals greatly limits the chance of
acquiring an infectious disease from the animals at GUMC. This is particularly
true for anyone using purpose bred rodents or rabbits. The other animals used
at GUMC pose slightly higher, but still very small, risks of infectious disease.
The Division of Comparative Medicine (DCM) maintains a library with information
on zoonotic diseases. Anyone desiring further information can contact the DCM Director.
Allergies are common in people working with or near laboratory animals. These include
both inhalant and contact allergies. Nearly every species housed in the DCM has the potential
to cause allergic reactions in susceptible individuals. In most cases the allergies develop
after employment begins. Symptoms can vary but can include conjunctivitis, dermatitis,
respiratory problems and anaphylaxis. Prevention of animal allergy depends on control
measures in place within the work environment. A combination of methods to combat or limit
allergen exposure, including administrative controls, training and education and the
utilization of personal protective equipment has been implemented at Georgetown University.
Injuries are the most common occupational hazard for DCM staff members. Most of these
are related to the equipment, lifting, repetitive motion, wet floors, etc. Investigators,
their staff, and other individuals entering the animal facility should be watchful for wet
floors and practice proper lifting techniques, as necessary. In addition, staff members are
at risk of animal bites and scratches. Proper animal handling greatly reduces the potential
for a bite or scratch.
For more information, please go to:
Training and Distribution of Infomation
Prevention
Bite and Scratch Procedures
Clinical Components
Program Implementation and
Notification
Program
Announcement Webpage
Occupational
Health Program Health History Survey
Training and Distribution of Information
All Animal Research Personnel must receive and review the following written
information:
- “Preventing Asthma in Animal Handlers” (National Institute for Occupational
Safety and Health (NIOSH) Alert, DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 97-116)
- “Animal Allergy” (chapter in occupational Health and Safety in the Care
and Use of Research Animals)
- A copy of this Occupational Health Program
Animal Research Personnel will receive this information when they attend their
required DCM orientation.
The DCM provides hands-on training, upon request of individual Animal Research
Personnel or the Georgetown University Animal Care and Use Committee (GUACUC), in
humane methods of restraint and laboratory procedures with emphasis on injury
prevention for both personnel and animals.
Training sessions in chemical, radiation and biohazardous material safety and
ergonomics are provided by the Department of Environmental Health and Safety. Animal
Research Personnel are strongly encouraged to attend.
A DCM clinical veterinarian provides information to Animal Research Personnel working
with non-human primates on the proper use of Bite and Scratch kits during the mandatory
Herpes B Orientation Training class. The proper use of the Bite and Scratch Kits, which
are provided by the DCM in all non-human primate housing areas, will be described and
discussed. All Animal Research Personnel working with non-human primates are required to
receive this training.
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Prevention
The DCM and research laboratories must make available personal protective equipment
(e.g. lab coats, face masks, gloves, scrubs) in places where animals may be present.
If research animals are transported outside the DCM, they must be moved in a
filtered container (e.g. cages with microisolator filter tops for rodents). The outside
of the container must be covered so that animals are not visible.
In the laboratory, animals should be maintained and handled in a local exhaust system
such as a biological safety cabinet, fume hood, or downdraft table. In areas where local
exhaust systems are not feasible, appropriate personal protective equipment must be worn.
As applicable, Animal Research Personnel must:
- wear personal protective equipment in all locations where animals are housed or
where exposure to animal allergies may occur;
- wear disposable gloves when handling animals, animal tissues or animal fluids;
- wear a surgical mask in all non-human primate and sheep housing areas;
- keep hands away from mouth, nose and eyes;
- refrain from eating, drinking, smoking, handling contact lenses, applying
cosmetics, or taking or applying medicine in areas where research animals are
located;
- wash hands thoroughly after handling animals, animal tissues or animal fluids; and
- use and dispose of sharps properly and in accordance with GUMC regulated medical
waste guidelines.
Allergies to animal dander are common and may increase with long term exposure to
animals. Wearing respirator, face masks and/or gloves may help alleviate allergy
symptoms. Use of a respirator without clearance is prohibited.
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BITE AND SCRATCH PROCEDURES
Anyone who receives an animal bite that punctures the skin or a needle stick should:
- Identify the animal species and ID #.
- Clean wound.
- Report to the GU Hospital Emergency Room or his/her private physician.
An incident report should be completed by the treating physician.
Anyone bitten by a nonhuman primate, scratched by a non-human primate or by
non-human primate equipment, or who has any mucous membranes exposed to non-human
primate secretions (e.g. urine, saliva) should:
- Immediately report incident a DCM clinical veterinarian or DCM veterinary technician.
- Follow the instructions for wound care management found in the
“Bite and Scratch Kit” located adjacent to the animal room.
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Clinical Components
All completed surveys should be sent directly to the Occupational Health Program
Coordinator (“Coordinator”), who will log and forward the forms to the Medical Director.
The Medical Director will review the surveys and provide the appropriate risk assessment,
evaluating the following:
- Tetanus toxoid (valid for 10 years, otherwise a booster will be required
unless medically contraindicated)
- Rabies (3 doses will be available to personnel working with bats)
- TB screening (Individuals working with non-human primates who do not have
a history of a prior positive PPD receive a PPD on enrollment. If the participant
has a history of a previous positive PPD, further skin testing is not performed;
a TB Questionnaire is administered. A chest x-ray is obtained if the individual’s
responses to the TB Questionnaire suggest active pulmonary tuberculosis or the
individual can not provide documentation of a normal chest x-ray following the
discovery of the positive PPD)
- Hepatitis B (vaccination will be offered)
- Measles (vaccination will be offered to personnel working with nonhuman primates)
- Allergy assessment
- General health assessment
If additional tests, physical exams or health surveillance are needed, the
Medical Director will complete a Medical Authorization and Order Form and forward
it to the Coordinator. The Coordinator will forward a copy of the Medical Authorization
and Order Form to the Animal Research Personnel and may assist in setting up appointments,
as necessary, with the General Clinical Research Center (GCRC). After the individual has
received his/her examination, testing and/or assessment, the Coordinator will retrieve the
Patient Encounter form and completed Medical Authorization and Order Form from the GCRC
and will forward directly to the Medical Director for final review.
Upon notification of the need for additional tests, physical exam or health surveillance,
all Animal Research Personnel will have thirty days to complete the clinical services.
If clinical services are not administered within thirty days of receipt of notification,
the GUACUC will be notified and access to the DCM facility will be revoked.
Anyone who becomes ill or injured due to animal contact or animal allergen exposure
should inform his/her primary care physician about his/her occupational exposure to animals.
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Program Implementation and Notification
All Animal Research Personnel must complete a Health History Survey and medical
evaluation, and must obtain medical clearance, annually and prior to GUACUC renewal.
All Animal Research Personnel, who will be listed as participant and will work with
animals in a GUACUC research protocol, must obtain medical clearance through the
Occupational Health Program before a GUACUC protocol can be approved or renewed.
The Health History Survey is available on the GUACUC website. New Animal Research
Personnel will also receive the form during their required DCM orientation.
If additional tests, physical exams or health surveillance are needed, the Medical
Director will complete a Medical Authorization and Order Form and forward it to the
Coordinator. The Coordinator will forward a copy of the Medical Authorization and Order
Form to the Animal Research Personnel and may assist in setting up appointments, as
necessary, with the General Clinical Research Center (GCRC). After the individual
has received his/her examination, testing and/or assessment, the Coordinator will
retrieve the Patient Encounter form and completed Medical Authorization and Order
Form from the GCRC and will forward directly to the Medical Director for final review.
Upon notification of the need for additional tests, physical exam or health
surveillance, all Animal Research Personnel will have thirty days to complete
the clinical services. If clinical services are not administered within thirty
days of receipt of notification, the GUACUC will be notified and access to the
DCM facility will be revoked.
The Medical Director will then complete a “Medical Clearance to Work with
Laboratory Animals” letter (“Medical Clearance“) and will forward this to the
Coordinator for distribution and logging into the program database. The Coordinator
will send a copy of the Medical Clearance letter to the individual, will enter
the Medical Clearance information into the program database, and will file the
hard copy of the forms securely.
The Coordinator will forward to the GUACUC the names of all Animal Research
Personnel who have completed the Health History Survey and have obtained Medical
Clearance. All medical history information will be maintained securely by the
Coordinator.
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