High risk student in Bio question

[bigmack]

Hi all ,
We have a senior student that has had an organ transplant and is on Immunosuppressant Drugs .
They will be doing the prac with Mastrings and Agar plates where they will smear with E.Coli and Staphlococcus epidermidis Broths .

Is there any concern for the safety of this student and what precautions would you all suggest ?

I am presently waiting to contact Science Assist as we have a yearly subscription but know body knows the passwords

[Pm706Narrogin]

If they're like the Southern Biological broths then they should contain strains that have been modified to not be dangerous to humans but SB still recommends it is best practice to treat them as "live"

When we've done inoculation with broths we've given the students and teacher full PPE including disposable aprons, gloves and masks and given the benches a thorough wipedown afterwards.

I would recommend the teacher give the student the option to sit out the inoculation lesson if they are not comfortable and at the very least providing them with as much PPE as possible if they do go ahead with it. As I said, they shouldn't be dangerous but someone immunocompromised may be affected differently by accidental exposure

[bigmack]

Thanks Pm706 , That's kinda where we are thinking ATM .
Just not quite sure .

[LabbieSeth]

I second PM's statement. We had a student here last year with similar health vulnerabilities. She was given the option to sit out of the prac and just observe me doing the prac on her behalf which was ultimately the path we chose to take. She was offered to do it with full PPE, and like PM said, SB broths shouldn't be dangerous which was stated to her, however I personally did recommend that she just observe. The student ended up in full PPE observing from roughly a meter away.

[bigmack]

Thanks Labbieseth .
Can you elaborate on "Full PPE"
Are you talking about say , an N95 mask or a fully enclosed Hazmat suit

In the meantime , I have recovered connection to Science Assist and submitted question to ne passed to their Panel .

[LabbieSeth]

Full PPE was inclusive of leather shoes, long pants, lab coat, gloves, hairnet, safety goggles and a N95 mask. She also followed aseptic techniques as well
Hope that helps

[Marama T]

Thanks Labbieseth .
Can you elaborate on "Full PPE"
Are you talking about say , an N95 mask or a fully enclosed Hazmat suit

In the meantime , I have recovered connection to Science Assist and submitted question to ne passed to their Panel .

What? You've got a hazmat suit handy?

[bigmack]

Thanks Labbieseth .
Can you elaborate on "Full PPE"
Are you talking about say , an N95 mask or a fully enclosed Hazmat suit

In the meantime , I have recovered connection to Science Assist and submitted question to ne passed to their Panel .

What? You've got a hazmat suit handy?

No , and I was hoping not to have to get one