Question

Bloody gauze sponges infected with brucellosis: A) Dispose of in regular trash

B) Dispose of in a biohazard container
C) Flush down the toilet
D) Recycle

Answer 1

Bloody gauze sponges infected with brucellosis must be disposed of in a biohazard container, following biosafety practices to prevent exposure to the hazardous BSL-3 pathogen.

Step-by-step explanation:

Bloody gauze sponges infected with brucellosis should be disposed of in a biohazard container. This is because brucellosis is caused by a bacterium that is classified as a biosafety level 3 (BSL-3) pathogen, indicating that it is hazardous to handle. Laboratory personnel are required to follow strict biosafety practices and procedures to prevent contamination and spread of infectious agents. All biohazard waste needs to be sterilized by autoclave before it can be included in the waste stream. The health and safety guidelines specify that contaminated items such as bloody sponges should not be disposed of in regular trash, flushed down the toilet, or recycled to prevent exposure to infectious agents.