Diagnostic laboratories play a crucial role in surveillance and epidemic preparedness.However,gaps in adherence to biosecurity and biosafety protocols in managing,isolating,storing,and disposing of infec-tious pathoge...Diagnostic laboratories play a crucial role in surveillance and epidemic preparedness.However,gaps in adherence to biosecurity and biosafety protocols in managing,isolating,storing,and disposing of infec-tious pathogens in these facilities pose a serious risk to the laboratory,local populations,and the sur-rounding environment.In this study,we evaluated adherence to biosecurity and biosafety protocols in 96 public and private biomedical and veterinary laboratories in Benin to identify and address such gaps.We followed a cross-sectional study design.We used the Biosafety and Biosecurity in Laboratory Tool to assess biomedical laboratories and the Laboratory Mapping Tool to assess veterinary laboratories.Data were collected using KoBoCollect and analyzed with R software version 4.0.5.Descriptive analysis,the chi-squared test,and logistic regression were used to analyze the data.The findings revealed that most laboratories did not comply with established guidelines.Of all laboratories surveyed,42%presented a very high risk,38%a high risk,15%moderate risk,and 5%were low risk.Overall,80%of biomedical lab-oratories and 100%of veterinary laboratories were rated high risk.To improve effective biosecurity prac-tices in laboratories in Benin to an acceptable standard,it is essential to implement robust biosecurity and biosafety policies.Additionally,capacity-building sessions should be conducted for laboratory staff and managers to educate them on the latest biosecurity protocols.展开更多
基金supported by the Elizabeth R.Griffin Pro-gram through funding provided by the U.S.Department of State,Nonproliferation and Disarmament Fund(grant number SISNDF22GR0010)The funders had no role in study design,data collection and analysis,decision to publish,or preparation of the manuscript.
文摘Diagnostic laboratories play a crucial role in surveillance and epidemic preparedness.However,gaps in adherence to biosecurity and biosafety protocols in managing,isolating,storing,and disposing of infec-tious pathogens in these facilities pose a serious risk to the laboratory,local populations,and the sur-rounding environment.In this study,we evaluated adherence to biosecurity and biosafety protocols in 96 public and private biomedical and veterinary laboratories in Benin to identify and address such gaps.We followed a cross-sectional study design.We used the Biosafety and Biosecurity in Laboratory Tool to assess biomedical laboratories and the Laboratory Mapping Tool to assess veterinary laboratories.Data were collected using KoBoCollect and analyzed with R software version 4.0.5.Descriptive analysis,the chi-squared test,and logistic regression were used to analyze the data.The findings revealed that most laboratories did not comply with established guidelines.Of all laboratories surveyed,42%presented a very high risk,38%a high risk,15%moderate risk,and 5%were low risk.Overall,80%of biomedical lab-oratories and 100%of veterinary laboratories were rated high risk.To improve effective biosecurity prac-tices in laboratories in Benin to an acceptable standard,it is essential to implement robust biosecurity and biosafety policies.Additionally,capacity-building sessions should be conducted for laboratory staff and managers to educate them on the latest biosecurity protocols.
