An investigation of potential neurosurgical transmission of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease: challenges and lessons learned.
In 2001, New York State health officials were notified about 2 patients with Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease who had undergone neurosurgical procedures at the same hospital within 43 days of each other. One patient had Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease at the time of surgery; the other patient developed Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease 6.5 years later. This investigation highlights the difficulties in assessing possible transmission of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.
New York State Department of Health, Albany, NY 12237, USA. rls01@health.state.ny.us
Rachel L
RL
Stricof
Patricia P
PP
Lillquist
Nadia
N
Thomas
Ermias D
ED
Belay
Lawrence B
LB
Schonberger
Dale L
DL
Morse
D000368:Aged; D007562:Creutzfeldt-Jakob Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000635:transmission*; D004866:Equipment Contamination; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009518:New York; D011184:Postoperative Period; D013525:Surgical Instruments; D013997:Time Factors