Lesson Notes By Weeks and Term v4 - SHS 3

Lesson Video

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Performance objectives

• Define laboratory-acquired infections (LAIs) and their sources.
• Analyze case studies of LAIs.
• Explain preventive measures against LAIs.
• Reflect on biosafety practices in real-life labs.

Lesson summary

This lesson introduces the critical concept of Laboratory-Acquired Infections (LAIs). We will explore what LAIs are, how they occur, and most importantly, how they can be prevented. For biomedical scientists working in places like the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, the Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine (KCCR), or even our local hospital laboratories, understanding and preventing LAIs is a matter of life and death. It protects the health worker, their family, and the entire community from potential outbreaks. This knowledge is essential for anyone aspiring to a career in healthcare or research in Ghana.

Lesson notes

A. What is a Laboratory-Acquired Infection (LAI)?

A Laboratory-Acquired Infection (LAI) is any infection contracted through laboratory or laboratory-related activities. This means a person gets sick from a pathogen (like a bacterium, virus, or fungus) they were exposed to while working in a lab. Who is at risk? Laboratory technicians, biomedical scientists, researchers, students, cleaners, and anyone who enters a laboratory environment. Simple Example: A lab technician at a district hospital in Ho is processing a blood sample from a patient with Tuberculosis (TB). A small droplet from the sample splashes into their eye. A few weeks later, the technician develops TB. This is a classic LAI. B. Common Sources and Pathogens Causing LAIs

The sources of infection are the materials or locations where the pathogens are found.

| Source Category | Specific Examples | Common Pathogens in Ghana | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Clinical Specimens | Blood, urine, sputum (phlegm), faeces, tissue samples, cerebrospinal fluid. | HIV, Hepatitis B & C viruses, *Mycobacterium tuberculosis*, *Salmonella Typhi*. | | Cultures | Pure or mixed colonies of microorganisms grown on agar plates or in broths. | *Staphylococcus aureus*, *E. coli*, Fungi (e.g., *Candida*). | | Infected Animals | Research animals (e.g., mice, rats) used in experiments. | Lassa virus, Rabies virus. | | Contaminated Surfaces | Benchtops, equipment (centrifuges, incubators), door handles, lab coats. | Any pathogen being worked on can contaminate surfaces if not disinfected. | C. Routes of Transmission in the Laboratory

Evaluation guide

• Analyse laboratory- acquired infections (LAIs), including some case studies.
• Initiating Talk for Learning: Watch videos on a case study of LAI (e.g., "Outbreak") or listen to
• summarised conversations on LAI and write down at least three items or practices observed that may
• have been inaccurate or are interesting representations of safety in the laboratory.