Development and Pilot Implementation of a Ladderized Biosafety Training Program in a Specialty Infectious Disease Hospital and Research Institute

Authors

  • Plebeian Medina Research Institute for Tropical Medicine – Department of Health
  • Abigail Padua Research Institute for Tropical Medicine - Department of Health
  • Michelle Casagan Research Institute for Tropical Medicine - Department of Health
  • Randy Olpindo Research Institute for Tropical Medicine-Department of Health
  • Amado Tandoc III Research Institute for Tropical Medicine - Department of Health
  • Socorro Lupisan Research Institute for Tropical Medicine - Department of Health

Keywords:

biosafety, biosafety training program, biosecurity

Abstract

Biosafety is the application of laboratory practices, use of safety equipment and implementation of procedures in laboratory facilities when working with potentially infectious microorganisms to protect not only the laboratory worker, but also the general public and the environment. Biosafety training specifically structured based on risk is vital to establish a safe working environment to reduce the risks of unintentional exposure and/or intentional release of infectious microorganisms. In 2016, a ladderized 3-step biosafety training program was established by the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, a specialty infectious disease hospital and National Reference Laboratory in the Philippines. The training program includes 1) Biosafety 101, offered to all new RITM employees; 2) Applied Biosafety training, especially designed for laboratory personnel; and 3) Advanced Biosafety training, focused on developing Biosafety Officers and infectious disease outbreak responders. A 30% increase in awareness on biosafety has been achieved among participants of the first two steps of the program, with the third module to be implemented in 2017.

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Author Biographies

Plebeian Medina, Research Institute for Tropical Medicine – Department of Health

Medical Specialist IV; Head-Department of Virology

Abigail Padua, Research Institute for Tropical Medicine - Department of Health

Microbiologist

Michelle Casagan, Research Institute for Tropical Medicine - Department of Health

Medical Technologist

Randy Olpindo, Research Institute for Tropical Medicine-Department of Health

Laboratory Aide

Amado Tandoc III, Research Institute for Tropical Medicine - Department of Health

LRD Head

Socorro Lupisan, Research Institute for Tropical Medicine - Department of Health

RITM Director

References

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3. Kaufman SG, Berkelman R. Biosafety “behavioral-based” training for high biocontainment laboratories: bringing theory into practice for biosafety training. Applied Biosafety. 2007;12(3):178-184. Available at: http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/153567600701200307.

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6. Zaki AN, Biosafety and biosecurity measures: management of biosafety level 3 facilities. Int J of Antimicrob Agents. 2010:36(1):S70-4. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijantimicag.2010.06.026

Published

01/21/2017

How to Cite

Medina, P., Padua, A., Casagan, M., Olpindo, R., Tandoc III, A., & Lupisan, S. (2017). Development and Pilot Implementation of a Ladderized Biosafety Training Program in a Specialty Infectious Disease Hospital and Research Institute. PJP, 2(1), 5. Retrieved from https://philippinejournalofpathology.org/index.php/PJP/article/view/48

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