Summer Safety in the Laboratory

...............................................

Laboratorians face an increased risk of pathogen exposure throughout the year due to the nature of their work. With the arrival of summer, it is important to be particularly vigilant about certain infectious organisms that may be more prevalent during this season.



The incidence of gastrointestinal disease-causing pathogens rise in the summer. The laboratory may encounter stools positive for Shigella, Salmonella, shigatoxin-positive E. coli, Campylobacter, and others.

Summer activities like traveling and spending time in nature can lead to exposure to rare high-consequence pathogens. Notable examples include Yersinia pestis, naturally found in parts of the western United States and transmitted among wild rodents and other animals, and Francisella tularensis, which can be transmitted by infected ticks, deer flies, and infected animals such as rodents, rabbits, and feral cats.

Nebraska Public Health Laboratory (NPHL) typically sees an increase in these pathogens during the summer.

Consequently, NPHL encourages all laboratory personnel to review and adhere to safety practices, particularly those concerning biological exposures. This is a reminder of the crucial need to maintain a clean workstation, to wash hands, and to wear gloves (and other appropriate personal protective equipment) when handling specimen containers. It’s also important to use a properly certified biological safety cabinet (BSC) during culture set up and when a particularly hazardous pathogen is suspected to avoid exposure that might occur while working on an open bench.