The set of all procedures put in place to decrease in the environment the risks and impact of infections associated with pathogens of viral, bacterial and fungal origin is called by the term biosecurity.
Thus, biosecurity is based on behavioral conduct that pursues the pursuit of the skills and knowledge necessary to minimize the risks of laboratory personnel and those who come into contact with them, while performing their activities.
This issue is studied and addressed in the field in biosafety laboratories where potentially dangerous pathogens are handled and designed for containment.
There are four biocontainment laboratories: the first two types are basic laboratories (Biosafety 1 and 2), the third type is containment (Biosafety 3), and the fourth type is maximum containment (Biosafety 4).
Level one is appropriate for activities involving well-characterized agents known not to cause disease in healthy adult humans and with minimal hazard potential for laboratory personnel and the environment (CDC, 1997).
Decontamination procedures for this level are similar in many respects to common everyday precautions against microorganisms (e.g., washing hands with antibacterial soap, washing all exposed laboratory surfaces with disinfectants, etc.).
Laboratory personnel have specific training in the procedures conducted in the laboratory and are supervised by a scientist with general training in microbiology or a related science.
The second level is similar to the first and is suitable for activities involving pathogens of moderate potential danger to personnel and the environment.
It includes various bacteria and viruses that cause only mild disease in humans, hepatitis A, B, and C, measles, and salmonella.
Research activities (including co-cultivation, virus replication studies, or manipulations involving concentrated viruses) can be carried out in a BSL-2 (P2) facility, using practices and procedures typical of the BSL-3 level.
The third level is applicable for clinical, diagnostic, teaching, research and manufacturing research facilities in which locally produced or externally sourced agents that are capable of causing serious or life-threatening disease after inhalation are used.
This includes various bacteria, parasites and viruses that can cause serious or fatal illness in humans but for which there are cures such as Francisella tularensis, Tuberculosis, Chlamydia psittaci, Yersinia pestis and SARS-CoV-2.
This level is necessary for working with dangerous and exotic agents that present a high risk of airborne transmission of infection in the laboratory, with agents that cause serious fatal diseases in humans for which no vaccines or other treatments are available, such as Ebola, Congo-Crimean hemorrhagic fever, and various other hemorrhagic diseases.
When dealing with biohazards at this level the use of a positive pressure personal suit with a separate air supply is mandatory.
Entry and exit of a level four bio lab will include showers, a vacuum chamber, an ultraviolet light chamber and other security measures designed to destroy all traces of biohazard.
Watertight, sealable access gates are used that are electronically protected to prevent both doors from being opened at the same time.
One of the areas where this issue comes most to the fore is in the food and livestock sectors.
