What is the proper Biosafety Level when handling Burkholderia pseudomallei samples or cultures?

Burkholderia pseudomallei, the causative agent of melioidosis, is a highly pathogenic bacterium that poses a significant risk to human health. It is classified as a Tier 1 select agent by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) due to its potential for aerosol transmission and ability to cause severe disease in humans. The correct Biosafety Level (BSL) for handling samples or cultures of Burkholderia pseudomallei is BSL-3.

At BSL-3, facilities are designed to ensure that infectious agents are contained, preventing their escape into the environment. Work is conducted in a laboratory with controlled access and required safety features, including the use of biological safety cabinets for manipulation of the cultures and appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) for all personnel. This level of biosafety is critical for organisms that can be transmitted through inhalation and can cause serious or possibly lethal diseases.

In contrast, lower biosafety levels, such as BSL-1 and BSL-2, do not provide adequate safeguards for handling such highly infectious agents. BSL-4 represents the highest level of containment, reserved for the deadliest pathogens that pose extreme risk, like Ebola or Marburg viruses, which