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Biological Agent Summaries

PHAC Pathogen Safety Data Sheets

The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) has provided a very useful compilation of agent-specific information called Pathogen Safety Data Sheets (PSDS).  PSDS have the familiar structure of chemical safety data sheets, are well-organized and easy to read.  They feature the agent epidemiology, mode of transmission, environmental stability, physical/chemical modes of disinfection, availability of medical therapies, history of lab acquired infections, and suggested biosafety level.   Therefore, PSDS are a great tool for assessing relative risk, setting safety practices, developing laboratory SOPs,  and providing succinct agent-specific training.

U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention Agent Summaries:

Like the PHAC PSDS, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) provides useful agent-specific reference material.  The CDC does not provide a compiled list of agents, but agent-specific information can be found by searching by the name of the agent/disease in CDC A-Z index provided on their homepage.  More detailed information is often provided in a tabulated format on the agent’s page.

The 5th edition of the BMBL also has agent summary sheets especially on those organisms now considered select agents.

FDA/CFSAN Bad Bug Book (Second Edition)

This is a handbook of foodborne pathogens and toxins. This resource covers nfectious diseases affecting humans, but often carried and shed by animals.