title: Quantitative evaluation of prion inactivation comparing steam sterilization and chemical sterilants: proposed method for test standardization.
abstract: Prions are notoriously resistant to inactivation. To prevent accidental transmission of variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD), various decontamination procedures have been adopted for re-usable medical devices by the authorities of countries at risk. As the vCJD agent in humans has a wide tissue distribution, practical methods of prion decontamination urgently need to be standardized, as do other sterilization and disinfection procedures (European Committee for Standardization). This article proposes a method using a quantitative murine model, combining observations of the decrease in the infection rate, the increase in the incubation period and a simultaneously performed chemical protein fixation control. In terms of practical application, autoclaving at 134 degrees C for 18 min or 121 degrees C for 30 min, and 1N sodium hydroxide for 15 min reduced the transmission of infectivity by a factor of at least 10(6). Partial efficacy can also be identified by the methodology, particularly for liquid cold sterilants such as glutaraldehyde and peracetic acid solutions.
authors.affiliation: Paris V University, Central Pharmacy of Hospitals, Paris, France.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vadrot
authors.forename: J-C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Darbord
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004202:Disinfectants; D004203:Disinfection / Q000379:methods*; D004866:Equipment Contamination / Q000517:prevention & control; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D017096:Prion Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012608:Scrapie / Q000517:prevention & control; D013525:Surgical Instruments / Q000382:microbiology*
chemical_list: D004202:Disinfectants