Streptococcus Pneumoniae

Aerotolerant (oxygen-tolerant), anaerobic, Gram positive diplococci, lancet-shaped, occur in pairs, or short, tight chains

Can be placed in various growth media and incubated at 37°C. Ex: TSA supplemented with 5% sheep’s blood

Humans, mice, rats guinea pigs, chimpanzees, rhesus monkeys, mammals that live in association with humans

Direct contact with aerosol droplets. Direct oral and mucous membrane contact. Indirectly through articles freshly soiled with respiratory discharges.

Shaking chills, chest pain, dyspnea, fever, productive cough, and sinusitis; Can cause middle ear infections. Can progress to pneumonia, bacteremia, meningitis

Unknown for humans

Generally 1-3 days

Penicillin

Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) and pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPV23). Vaccination is recommended for all children under 5 years of age, all adults over 65 years of age, and high risk individuals of any age, including individuals with underlying medical conditions such as HIV or sickle cell disease.

Variable susceptibility to: penicillin, tetracycline, cefotaxime, levofloxacin, erythromycin, and fluoroquinolones, moxifloxacin and gatifloxacin, telithromycin, vancomycin, linezolid

Monitor for symptoms of infection

Report all exposures

78 documented cases since 1999.

Sputum, blood, respiratory secretions, throat swabs, parenteral inoculation

Pathogen Safety Data Sheets

Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories 

Travelers Health - Pneumococcal Disease 

For all activities involving known or potentially infected cultures

For all procedures utilizing infected animals

Notify others working in the lab. Allow aerosols to settle. Don appropriate PPE. Cover area of the spill with paper towels and apply an EPA registered disinfectant, working from the perimeter towards the center. Allow 30 minutes of contact time before disposal and cleanup of spill materials.

Contact Emory’s Biosafety Officer (404-727-8863),
the EHSO Office (404-727-5922), or
The Spill Response Team (404-727-2888).

Flush eyes, mouth or nose for 15 minutes at eyewash station.

Wash area with soap and water for 15 minutes.

Immediately report incident to supervisor, complete an employee incident report in PeopleSoft.

7am-4pm (OIM): EUH (404-686-7941) EUHM (404-686-7106) WW (404-728-6431)

After Hours: OIM NP On Call 404-686-5500 PIC# 50464

Needle Stick (OIM): EUH (404-686-8587) EUHM (404-686-2352)

Yerkes: Maureen Thompson Office (404-727-8012) Cell (404-275-0963)

1% sodium hypochlorite, 70% ethanol, 2% glutaraldehyde,

Sensitive to moist and dry heat.

Moist Heat (121°C for at least 15 mins).

Dry Heat (160-170°C for at least 1 hour).

Mouse carcass – 180 to 270 days; Sputum (Room Temp) - 7 days; Gauze – 2 to 15 days