Efficacy, Measurement and Comparison of Biosafety and Biosecurity Courses in mitigating emerging risks of COVID - 19 pandemic

Background: Biosafety & Biosecurity training in COVID - 19 pandemic proved beneficial for lab workers exposed to potentially infectious materials by increasing level of awareness. Essential that they be forewarned to the hazards and risks in working environment for bioh azards; how to save themselves (Biosafety) and safeguard the product (Biosecurity). Methods: Development of table of specification, national level involvement, selection through entry test, custom - made curriculum. Construction of 50 questions, pre - and fi nal post - assessment test ascertaining cognition level on the subject after completion of course. 15 questions for each session were also constructed to evaluate their initial cognition level and post session proficiency. There were eight contact sessions. Each session, pre - and post - assessments to ascertain impact of awareness. Results: Overall result of pre - test assessment of 50 questions was 33.0%, post - test assessment was 90.7%, indicating overall elevation of awareness ( 57.7%). Analysis of results (pre - and post) through a paired t - test yielded highly significant P value of 0.000001 . Likert scale for course and facilitator evaluation by Cronbach’s alpha, showed variables having maximum score > 0.8 , indicating the high results for feedback evaluation. Con clusion: Proper awareness of lab workers is mandatory for Biorisk management in keeping them biosafe which is additional benefit in the wake of pandemic.

Laboratory biosafety for handling emerging viruses

Emerging viruses are viruses whose occurrence has risen within the past twenty years, or whose presence is likely to increase in the near future. Diseases caused by emerging viruses are a major threat to global public health. In spite of greater awareness of safety and containment procedures, the handling of pathogenic viruses remains a likely source of infection, and mortality, among laboratory workers. There is a steady increase in both the number of laboratories and scientist handling emerging viruses for diagnostics and research. The potential for harm associated to work with these infectious agents can be minimized through the application of sound biosafety concepts and practices. The main factors to the prevention of laboratory-acquired infection are well-trained personnel who are knowledgable and biohazard aware, who are perceptive of the various ways of transmission, and who are professional in safe laboratory practice management. In addition, we should emphasize that appropriate facilities, practices and procedures are to be used by the laboratory workers for the handling of emerging viruses in a safe and secure manner. This review is aimed at providing researchers and laboratory personnel with basic biosafety principles to protect themselves from exposure to emerging viruses while working in the laboratory. This paper focuses on what emerging viruses are, why emerging viruses can cause laboratory-acquired infection, how to assess the risk of working with emerging viruses, and how laboratory-acquired infection can be prevented. Control measures used in the laboratory designed as such that they protect workers from emerging viruses and safeguard the public through the safe disposal of infectious wastes are also addressed.

Laboratory biosafety for handling emerging viruses

Emerging viruses are viruses whose occurrence has risen within the past twenty years,or whose presence is likely to increase in the near future.Diseases caused by emerging viruses are a major threat to global public health.In spite of greater awareness of safety and containment procedures,the handling of pathogenic viruses remains a likely source of infection,and mortality,among laboratory workers.There is a steady increase in both the number of laboratories and scientist handling emerging viruses for diagnostics and research.The potential for harm associated to work with these infectious agents can be minimized through the application of sound biosafety concepts and practices.The main factors to the prevention of laboratory-acquired infection are well-trained personnel who are knowledgable and biohazard aware,who are perceptive of the various ways of transmission,and who arc professional in safe laboratory practice management.In addition,we should emphasize that appropriate facilities,practices and procedures are to be used by the laboratory workers for the handling of emerging viruses in a safe and secure manner.This review is aimed at providing researchers and laboratory personnel with basic biosafety principles to protect themselves from exposure to emerging viruses while working in the laboratory.This paper focuses on what emerging viruses are,why emerging viruses can cause laboratory-acquired infection,how to assess the risk of working with emerging viruses,and how laboratory-acquired infection can be prevented.Control measures used in the laboratory designed as such that they protect workers from emerging viruses and safeguard the public through the safe disposal of infectious wastes are also addressed.