CHAPTER XIII 



Precautions against 

 Laboratory Infections 



IT IS important never to leave infected slides or instruments where they 

 may be accidentally handled. When they have been used, it is better to 

 dispose of them immediately or to place them in a 10 per cent solution of 

 cresol. The use of rubber gloves may be advisable in theory, but it is seldom 

 carried out in practice. The use of soap and water at frequent intervals is a 

 wise routine. With most of the dermatophytes there is little danger of in- 

 halation of spores from colonies. For this reason it has not been our policy 

 to wear masks when working with them. When one is working with cultures 

 of C. immitis, danger of inhalation is real and a mask should be worn; 

 moreover, care should be taken that there is no draft, as from an open win- 

 dow or from a fan. Another important consideration has to do with old 

 cultures. When the medium dries, it may be incorrectly assumed that the 

 fungi are dead. Through insufficient sterilization they may still be viable 

 and able to cause infections. The floors, the table tops and other accessible 

 and used parts should be frequently cleaned. Sponging with a 3 per cent 

 solution of cresol followed by the use of soap and water is effecth e. 



The use of a motorized burr to remove nail tissue has become fairly com- 

 mon. We advise against using this device in a laboratory, clinic or office. 

 Sterilization of the instrument is difficult, and it is difficult to keep the in- 

 fected nail material, which is pulverized by the rapidly revolving burr, 

 from being disseminated through the air. If the instrument is used, a mask 

 should be worn and newspapers on which the dust has been collected should 

 later be burned. 



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