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Article: Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease; single-use devices; third-party reprocessors; hair removal; instrument counts. (Clinical Issues).
- Article from:
- AORN Journal
- Article date:
- November 1, 2001
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2001 Association of Operating Room Nurses, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Question: We need guidance about applying the infection control measures for handling instruments contaminated with the Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) prion. When should we activate these measures? Should they be used for every neurosurgical procedure?
Answer: Unless a clear, non-CJD diagnosis is established, all patients should be considered as potentially infectious, and all appropriate infection control measures, including those for handling instruments and other surgical items exposed to CJD, should be taken. Some patients undergoing neurosurgical procedures may be undiagnosed before the procedure, and a definitive CJD diagnosis may not be confirmed for ...