A lab technician working in a Physical Containment 2 (PC2) laboratory needs to purify a mixed liquid culture of microorganisms. They plan to use the streak plate technique and work aseptically inside a Class II Biological Safety Cabinet (BSCII). Why would the technician chose to work inside work a BSCII rather than streaking the mixed culture onto a plate using aseptic technique on an open bench?

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The question describes a scenario in which a lab technician is purifying a mixed liquid culture in a PC2 setting, planning to use the streak plate technique inside a Class II Biological Safety Cabinet (BSCII). The core concern is biosafety: containing aerosols and preventing contamination.
Option 1: Working inside a BSCII would be appropriate if the mixed culture contains a pathogen that could be acquired by aerosol inhalation. Working inside the BSCII would contain aerosols protecting the technician from aerosol transmission of the pathogen, as well as preventing contamination of the environment and the microbial culture. This statement correctly identifies the main purpose of a BSCII: it provides containment of aerosols and protects both the worker and the surrounding environment from potential contamination when handling cultures that could be inhaled or dispersed via aerosols. It aligns with standard biosafety practices for procedures that generate aerosols, such as streak plating, especially with mixed cultures that may include pathogens.
Option 2: Working inside a BSCII allows the technician to protect themselves from exposure to pathogens in the environment. While this is partially true, it omits two key aspects: protection of the culture from contamination and protection of the environment from potential biosafety hazards. Merely protecting from environmental exposure does not fully capture the containment function of a BSCII during aerosol-generating manipulations.
Option 3: Working inside a BSCII would be appropriate if the mixed culture contains pathogenic microorganisms. Working inside the BSCII would protect the technician from acquiring an infection via direct contact transmission of the pathogen, as well as preventing contamination of the environment and the microbial culture. This option correctly notes protection for the worker and the environment, but it emphasizes protection specifically from direct contact transmission rather than aerosol risk. It also correctly mentions containment of both the environment and the culture, but the phrasing shifts emphasis away from aerosols, which is a primary concern for streak plating in a cabinet.
Option 4: Working inside a BSCII allows the technician to be better able to protect the purified microbial culture from being contaminated by environmental pathogens. While protecting the culture from environmental contaminants is a valid benefit of using a BSCII, this option centers on protecting the culture from environmental pathogens rather than focusing on the worker and aerosol containment. It describes a narrower rationale and does not fully address the aerosol generation risk during streak plating and the safety of the operator, which is a key reason for choosing BSCII in this context.

MIMI2002 (ND) Microbiology Practical Quiz

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