title: A practical approach to avoiding iatrogenic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) from invasive instruments.
abstract: Potential Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease instrument-contamination events continue to occur, causing widespread hospital and patient concern. We propose the use of a combination of diagnostic tests (ie, spinal fluid for 14-3-3 protein or nasal brushing for misfolded prion protein) and instrument handling procedures (ie, using a regional set of dedicated instruments), which if applied to all patients admitted with symptoms of either dementia or cerebellar disease, should eliminate the risk of iatrogenic instrument infection.
authors: 1National Institutes of Health (retired),Bethesda,Maryland,USA.
authors: Paul
authors: P
authors: Brown
authors: 2Neuropathology,Beaumont Hospital,Dublin,Ireland.
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Farrell
mesh_terms: D007562:Creutzfeldt-Jakob Syndrome / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004866:Equipment Contamination; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods*; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation*; D011300:Preoperative Care; D013525:Surgical Instruments / Q000382:microbiology