What does BSL stand for, and what type of agents are typically contained at BSL-2?

• A. Biosafety Level; BSL-2 covers moderately hazardous agents such as Staphylococcus aureus
• B. Biosafety Laboratory; BSL-2 is for environmental microbes only
• C. Biological Safety Level; BSL-2 is for extremely high-risk pathogens
• D. Biomedical Security Level; BSL-2 is for nonpathogenic organisms only

Answer: (A)

BSL stands for Biosafety Level. BSL-2 encompasses work with moderately hazardous biological agents that can cause disease in humans but are not typically transmitted by casual contact. An example of a microbe handled at this level is Staphylococcus aureus, a common human pathogen that may cause skin infections or more serious illnesses. In BSL-2 labs, access is restricted, you wear appropriate PPE, and procedures that could generate aerosols are performed in a biosafety cabinet, with rigorous decontamination of waste and equipment. This setup strikes a balance between research practicality and worker safety, protecting both the lab personnel and the surrounding environment.