Final answer:
In BSL-2 laboratory settings, additional safety precautions include restricted access, proper PPE such as gloves and face shields, using a biological safety cabinet, and equipped safety features like self-closing doors and an autoclave. Stringent hand hygiene and careful disinfection are also crucial to prevent contamination and infection spread.
Step-by-step explanation:
When working with BSL-2 bacteria, specific safety practices are recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to manage the moderate risk they pose to laboratory workers and the community. Among the additional precautions beyond BSL-1 requirements, laboratory personnel should restrict access to the lab, wear the required personal protective equipment (PPE) such as gloves, lab coats, and sometimes a face shield. Specifically, a biological safety cabinet should be used for procedures prone to creating aerosols to prevent airborne exposure to hazardous agents.
BSL-2 laboratories are equipped with safety features such as self-closing doors, an eyewash station, and essential sterilization equipment like an autoclave for proper decontamination of tools and waste. It is also crucial to practice stringent hand hygiene and careful disinfection of all items that come into contact with pathogenic microbes. These practices are essential in preventing contamination and spread of infection, whether in a lab setting managing BSL-2 organisms or in a healthcare setting treating infectious patients.