Moraxella catarrhalis
| Characteristics | |
|---|---|
| Morphology | Moraxella catarrhalis (formerly called Neisseria catarrhalis or Micrococcus catarrhalis) has emerged as a significant opportunistic pathogen. It is a gram-negative, aerobic diplococcus frequently found as a commensal of the upper respiratory tract. M. catarrhalis was considered a nonpathogenic member of the resident flora of the nasopharynx, but over the last 20 to 30 years, the bacterium has emerged as a genuine pathogen and is now considered an important cause of upper respiratory tract infections. |
| Growth Conditions | M. catarrhalis strains tolerate lower temperatures and grow well at 28oC on brain heart infusion (BHI) agar or broth |
| Health Hazards | |
|---|---|
| Host Range | Humans |
| Modes of Transmission | Due to being a part of normal flora, infections occur when a patient is immunocompromised or when bacterial invasion of sensitive tissue occurs |
| Signs and Symptoms | M. catarrhalis is responsible for sinusitis and otitis media in children as well as infections of the lower respiratory tract, causing exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in adults. It can also cause life-threatening, systemic diseases including endocarditis and meningitis. |
| Infectious Dose | Unknown |
| Incubation Period | Will vary based on patient status and site of infection |
| Medical Precautions/Treatment | |
|---|---|
| Prophylaxis | None readily available |
| Vaccines | None readily available |
| Treatment | Antibiotic treatment is available |
| Surveillance | Monitor for symptoms. PCR tests have been designed and used for clinical purposes, with direct detection of M. catarrhalis DNA alongside bacterial culturing and endotoxin detection |
| GWU Requirements | Report all incidents to the Office of Risk Management as well as the Office of Research Safety (ORS) IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE OCCURRENCE. |
| Containment | |
|---|---|
| BSL-2 | Risk Group 2 classification is applied to M. catarrhalis. BSL-2 practices, containment equipment, and facilities are recommended for activities using clinical materials and diagnostic quantities of infectious cultures. It is recommended that special emphasis be placed on personal protective equipment, handwashing, manipulation of faucet handles, and decontamination of work surfaces to decrease the risk of exposure. |
| Spill Procedures | |
|---|---|
| Small Spills (<1 liter) | If the spill occurred inside a biological safety cabinet, close the sash and allow the cabinet to operate for 15 minutes before continuing with the spill cleanup.
M. catarrhalis are not known to be spread via aerosols, but caution should be taken during a spill outside of a BSC. Leave the room immediately and allow the aerosols to dissipate for 15 minutes. Notify others working in the lab. Don appropriate PPE. Cover area of the spill with paper towels or any absorbent material and apply an EPA registered disinfectant effective against the bacteria (bleach, ethanol, glutaraldehyde), working from the perimeter towards the center. Allow 30 minutes of contact time before disposal and cleanup of spill materials. |
| Large Spills | Alert lab personnel in the laboratory to the spill and keep people out of the area to prevent spread of the contamination. Check if you have been contaminated or if any of your PPE has been breached. If so follow exposure procedures. Remove any contaminated clothing and place it the biohazard waste. Wash your hands and post a sign on the door. Notify your supervisor of the incident and call ORS (4-8258) for assistance. If the situation involves an imminently life-threatening injury or has catastrophic potential, call 911. |
| Exposure Procedures | |
|---|---|
| Mucus Membrane | Flush eyes, mouth or nose for 15 minutes at eyewash station. |
| Other Exposure | For an area not protected by skin, wash with soap and water for 15 minutes (open wounds, sores, etc.) |
| Reporting | Report ALL injuries to the PI immediately and reported to the Office of Risk Management at [email protected] IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE OCCURRENCE. Exposures that involve a bloodborne-pathogen or recombinant DNA also need to be reported to the Office of Research Safety at [email protected]. If the injury requires immediate medical attention, call GWPD at 202-994-6111 or call 911. |
| Medical Monitoring | Seek immediate medical evaluation, treatment, and post exposure follow-up at the Employee Health Office at GWU Hospital (900 23rd St., NW, Suite G-1090, Phone: 202-715-4275). Students should go to the Students Health Office at Marvin Center. After hours treatment can be received at the GWU hospital emergency room. |
| Stability | |
|---|---|
| Disinfection | Susceptible to 10% bleach, 2% glutaraldehyde, 70% ethanol |
| Inactivation | Most vegetative bacteria can be inactivated by moist heat (121°C for 15 min- 30 min) and dry heat (160-170°C for 1-2 hours) |
| Survival Outside Host | Stability data is limited, but due to colonizing nasopharyngeal regions it can be suggested that they can survive on other surfaces for at least 1 day |
| Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) | |
|---|---|
| Minimum PPE Requirements | At minimum, personnel are required to don gloves, closed toed shoes, lab coat, and appropriate face and eye protection prior to working with M. catarrhalis. Additional PPE may be required depending on lab specific SOPs. |
| Additional Precautions | Additional protection may be worn over laboratory clothing when infectious materials are directly handled, such as solid-front gowns with tight fitting wrists, gloves, and respiratory protection. Wash hands with soap and water after removing gloves. |
| References | |
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