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Characteristics
Morphology
gram-negative, facultative anaerobic bacteria that appear as rods or coccobacilli at 0.3-1 µm in diameter and 0.6-6 µm long.
Disease

urinary tract infections, blood stream infections, intra abdominal sepsis, brain abscesses, and pneumonia and other neonatal infection, such as meningitis, neonatal sepsis, joint infection or general bacteremia.
Zoonosis
None.
Health Hazards
Host Range
Human and animals and aquatic organisms (catfish).
Modes of Transmission
Direct contact with hospital staff members, mother to child transmission or through ingestion of environmental sources (fecal-oral route) but person-to-person transmission is more prevalent.
Signs and Symptoms 
Diarrhea (which may be watery), abdominal pain, fever, and, in more severe cases, meningitis, brain abscesses, or pneumonia.
Infectious Dose Approximately 10 7 CFU/mL.
Incubation Period 
Hours (gastrointestinal), in neonates can develop within a few hours to 42 days after delivery.
Medical Precautions/Treatment
Prophylaxis Antibiotics such as amoxicillin and a beta-lactamase inhibitor.
Vaccines None.
Treatment
Aminoglycosides, chloramphenicol, imipenim/cilastatin, trimetoprim, and trimetoprim/sulfamethazole.
Surveillance Monitor for symptoms.
MSU Requirements Report any exposures
Laboratory Hazards
Laboratory Acquired Infections (LAIs)
None reported.
 Sources
Human feces, brain abscesses, cerebral fluids, soil, water, cultures, frozen stocks, other samples described in IBC protocol.
Supplemental References
BMBL:
 https://www.cdc.gov/labs/BMBL.html
Canada PSDS:
NIH Guidelines:
Risk Group & Containment Requirements
Risk Group 2

Agents that are associated with human disease which is rarely serious and for which preventive or therapeutic interventions are often available.
BSL2
For all procedures involving suspected or known infectious specimen or cultures.
ABSL2
For all procedures involving infected animals
Spill Procedures
Small
Notify others working in the lab. Remove PPE and don new PPE. Cover area of the spill with absorbent material and add fresh 1:10 bleach:water. Allow 20 munutes (or as directed) of contact time. After 20 minutes, cleanup and dispose of materials.
Large
  • Immediately notify all personnel in the lab and clear all personnel from the area. Remove any contaminated PPE/clothing and leave the lab. 
  • Secure the area by locking doors, posting signage and guarding the area to keep people out of the space. 
For assistance, contact MSU's Biosafety Officer (406-994-6733) or Safety and Risk Management (406-994-2711).
Exposure Procedures
Mucous membrane
Flush eyes, mouth, or nose for 5 minutes at eyewash station.
Other Exposures
Wash area with soap and water for 5 minutes.
Reporting
Immediately report incident to supervisor, complete a First Report of Injury form, and submit to Safety and Risk Management.
Medical Follow-up
During business hours: Bridger Occupational Health 3406 Laramie Drive. Weekdays 8am -6pm.  Weekends 9am-5pm
After business hours: Bozeman Deaconess Hospital Emergency Room 915 Highland Blvd Bozeman, MT
Viability
Disinfection
Phenolic disinfectants, 1% sodium hypochlorite, 70% ethanol, formaldehyde, glutaraldehyde, iodophore and paracetic acid.
Inactivation
Inactivated by moist heat (60 minutes at 121oC) and dry heat (2 hours at 160-170oC), UV, microwave, gamma radiation.
Survival Outside Host
Soil and water.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Minimum PPE Requirements
Lab coat, disposable gloves, safety glasses, closed toed shoes, long pants
Additional Precautions
 Additioanl PPE may be required depending on lab specific SOPs and IBC Protocol.