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Tomao P, La Russa R, Oliva A, De Angelis M, Mansi A, Paba E, Marcelloni AM, Chiominto A, Padovano M, Maiese A, Scopetti M, Frati P, Fineschi V. Mapping Biological Risks Related to Necropsy Activities: Old Concerns and Novel Issues for the Safety of Health Professionals. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph182211947. [PMID: 34831702 PMCID: PMC8618163 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph182211947] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2021] [Revised: 11/06/2021] [Accepted: 11/10/2021] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Nowadays only a few studies on biological and environmental risk among healthcare workers are available in literature. The present study aims to assess the health operator’s risk of contact with microorganisms during necropsy activities, to evaluate the efficiency of current protections, to identify possible new sources of contact, and to point out possible preventive measures. In addition, considering the current pandemic scenario, the risk of transmission of SARS-CoV-2 infection in the dissection room is assessed. The objectives were pursued through two distinct monitoring campaigns carried out in different periods through sampling performed both on the corpses and at the environmental level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Tomao
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Epidemiology and Hygiene, Italian Workers’ Compensation Authority (INAIL), 00078 Rome, Italy; (P.T.); (A.M.); (E.P.); (A.M.M.); (A.C.)
| | - Raffaele La Russa
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Foggia, 71122 Foggia, Italy;
- IRCSS Neuromed Mediterranean Neurological Institute, Via Atinense 18, 86077 Pozzilli, Italy; (A.O.); (P.F.)
| | - Alessandra Oliva
- IRCSS Neuromed Mediterranean Neurological Institute, Via Atinense 18, 86077 Pozzilli, Italy; (A.O.); (P.F.)
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy;
| | - Massimiliano De Angelis
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy;
| | - Antonella Mansi
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Epidemiology and Hygiene, Italian Workers’ Compensation Authority (INAIL), 00078 Rome, Italy; (P.T.); (A.M.); (E.P.); (A.M.M.); (A.C.)
| | - Emilia Paba
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Epidemiology and Hygiene, Italian Workers’ Compensation Authority (INAIL), 00078 Rome, Italy; (P.T.); (A.M.); (E.P.); (A.M.M.); (A.C.)
| | - Anna Maria Marcelloni
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Epidemiology and Hygiene, Italian Workers’ Compensation Authority (INAIL), 00078 Rome, Italy; (P.T.); (A.M.); (E.P.); (A.M.M.); (A.C.)
| | - Alessandra Chiominto
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Epidemiology and Hygiene, Italian Workers’ Compensation Authority (INAIL), 00078 Rome, Italy; (P.T.); (A.M.); (E.P.); (A.M.M.); (A.C.)
| | - Martina Padovano
- Department of Anatomical, Histological, Forensic and Orthopaedic Science, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 336, 00185 Rome, Italy; (M.P.); (M.S.)
| | - Aniello Maiese
- Section of Legal Medicine, Department of Surgical Pathology, Medical, Molecular and Critical Area, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy;
| | - Matteo Scopetti
- Department of Anatomical, Histological, Forensic and Orthopaedic Science, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 336, 00185 Rome, Italy; (M.P.); (M.S.)
| | - Paola Frati
- IRCSS Neuromed Mediterranean Neurological Institute, Via Atinense 18, 86077 Pozzilli, Italy; (A.O.); (P.F.)
- Department of Anatomical, Histological, Forensic and Orthopaedic Science, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 336, 00185 Rome, Italy; (M.P.); (M.S.)
| | - Vittorio Fineschi
- IRCSS Neuromed Mediterranean Neurological Institute, Via Atinense 18, 86077 Pozzilli, Italy; (A.O.); (P.F.)
- Department of Anatomical, Histological, Forensic and Orthopaedic Science, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 336, 00185 Rome, Italy; (M.P.); (M.S.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-06-49912907
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Musa AMM, Ahmed AEM. Reference Jitter Values for Concentric Needle Electrode of Orbicularis Oculi and Frontalis Muscles Using Voluntary Activation Method in Sudanese Population. Sci Rep 2020; 10:1031. [PMID: 31974444 PMCID: PMC6978519 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-58037-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2019] [Accepted: 01/09/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Single fibre electromyography is the most sensitive neurophysiological test for the diagnosis of neuromuscular junction disorders, particularly myasthenia gravis. The study aimed at establishing concentric needle (CN) normal jitter values for voluntarily activated orbicularis-oculi (V-OOc) & Frontalis (V-FRO) muscles in Sudanese population. 57 healthy volunteers (20 males & 37 females) were included in the study (mean Age 43.6 ± 14.2 years, range 18–70 years). V-OOc and V-FRO were tested in the same individual using CN. Jitter values were expressed as the mean consecutive difference (MCD) of 30 potential pairs in microseconds. The mean jitter, mean individual fibre pairs jitter & mean outliers jitter values with (upper 95% Confidence Limit-CL) for [OOc] were [26.9 ± 3.3 (31.97), 26.1 ± 8.9 (41.8) & 38.5 ± 5.7 (49.0) µs] & for [FRO] were [27.1 ± 3.0 (31.32), 26.4 ± 9.4 (42.9) & 39.9 ± 5 (49.2) µs] respectively. The suggested practical upper limits for mean jitter & for outliers were (32, 49 µs) for OOc & (31, 49 µs) for FRO. Our CN-jitter values were within the range of the few published studies. The study was unique in that it established and compared between CN reference jitter values of two voluntarily activated facial muscles (V-OOc & V-FRO) in the same individual in large number of healthy subjects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Afraa M M Musa
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Khartoum, El Qasr Street, Khartoum, P.O. BOX 102, Sudan.
| | - Ammar E M Ahmed
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Khartoum, El Qasr Street, Khartoum, P.O. BOX 102, Sudan
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Abstract
Transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSE) or prion diseases exhibit strain variation, a phenomenon that has been studied extensively in mouse bioassays. Despite the introduction of many rapid in vitro systems, bioassays remain a key tool in defining prion strains and their ability to transmit disease in vivo. Prion strains can be characterized by a range of phenotypic characteristics such as incubation period, vacuolar pathology, and distribution of the abnormal form of PrP following experimental transmission of the agent into a panel of mice (transgenic or wild type). Interpretation of these characteristics requires considerable experience and an understanding of the procedures used to define them. This chapter reviews the techniques used in strain typing of prion diseases from inoculum preparation and pathological studies to data interpretation alongside an extensive troubleshooting guide.
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Resende AF, Yung ES, Waisbourd M, Katz LJ. Monitoring intra ocular pressure in glaucoma: current recommendations and emerging cutting-edge technologies. EXPERT REVIEW OF OPHTHALMOLOGY 2015. [DOI: 10.1586/17469899.2015.1100539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
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Belay ED, Schonberger LB, Brown P, Priola SA, Chesebro B, Will RG, Asher DM. Disinfection and Sterilization of Prion-Contaminated Medical Instruments. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2015; 31:1304-6; author reply 1306-8. [DOI: 10.1086/657579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
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Corte L, Dell'abate MT, Magini A, Migliore M, Felici B, Roscini L, Sardella R, Tancini B, Emiliani C, Cardinali G, Benedetti A. Assessment of safety and efficiency of nitrogen organic fertilizers from animal-based protein hydrolysates--a laboratory multidisciplinary approach. JOURNAL OF THE SCIENCE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE 2014; 94:235-245. [PMID: 23712286 DOI: 10.1002/jsfa.6239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2013] [Revised: 04/10/2013] [Accepted: 05/24/2013] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Protein hydrolysates or hydrolysed proteins (HPs) are high-N organic fertilizers allowing the recovery of by-products (leather meal and fluid hydrolysed proteins) otherwise disposed of as polluting wastes, thus enhancing matter and energy conservation in agricultural systems while decreasing potential pollution. Chemical and biological characteristics of HPs of animal origin were analysed in this work to assess their safety, environmental sustainability and agricultural efficacy as fertilizers. Different HPs obtained by thermal, chemical and enzymatic hydrolytic processes were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and their safety and efficacy were assessed through bioassays, ecotoxicological tests and soil biochemistry analyses. RESULTS HPs can be discriminated according to their origin and hydrolysis system by proteomic and metabolomic methods. Three experimental systems, soil microbiota, yeast and plants, were employed to detect possible negative effects exerted by HPs. The results showed that these compounds do not significantly interfere with metabolomic activity or the reproductive system. CONCLUSION The absence of toxic and genotoxic effects of the hydrolysates prepared by the three hydrolytic processes suggests that they do not negatively affect eukaryotic cells and soil ecosystems and that they can be used in conventional and organic farming as an important nitrogen source derived from otherwise highly polluting by-products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Corte
- Department of Applied Biology-Microbiology, University of Perugia, Borgo XX Giugno 74, I-06121, Perugia, Italy
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Davanipour Z, Sobel E, Ziogas A, Smoak C, Bohr T, Doram K, Liwnicz B. Ocular Tonometry and Sporadic Creutzfeldt - Jakob Disease (sCJD): A Confirmatory Case-Control Study. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2014; 4:2322-2333. [PMID: 25089261 PMCID: PMC4115807 DOI: 10.9734/bjmmr/2014/7247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
AIMS To evaluate the hypothesis that sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (sCJD) may be transmitted through ocular tonometry. BACKGROUND The infectious agent of sCJD may be present in the cornea prior to clinical symptoms. Cornea infectiousness has been documented by cornea transplants in guinea pigs and humans. sCJD is resistant to complete inactivity by conventional sterilization techniques. Thus contact tonometry equipment is not disinfected sufficiently to kill sCJD. We previously hypothesized that contact tonometry is a sCJD risk factor. STUDY DESIGN Population-based case-control study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA, USA; 4 years. METHODOLOGY An 11-state case-control study of pathologically confirmed definite sCJD cases, individually matched controls, and a sample of control surrogates was conducted. Ocular tonometry histories were obtained from case-surrogates, controls, and a sample of control-surrogates. RESULTS The odds ratio (OR) for ever vs never having had an ocular tonometry test was statistically significant for matched and unmatched analyses for 15 through 3 years prior to disease onset, using both control self-responses and control surrogates: ORs were ∞ and 19.4 with 1-sided P-values <0.0001 and 0.003 and ORs=∞ and 11.1 with 1-sided P-values <0.003 and 0.02, respectively. ORs increased as the number of tonometry tests increased during this age period: trend test, 2-sided P-value < 0.0001. For ≥5 vs <5 tonometry tests, the OR was 5.8 (unmatched) and 3.7 (matched), 2-sided P-value<0.00005. Respondents generally could not specify the type of tonometry. There was no indication of increased tonometry testing among cases within 2 years of disease onset. CONCLUSIONS The a priori hypothesis was supported. Contact tonometry, preferred by ophthalmologists, may be capable of transmitting sCJD. Consideration should be given to using disposable instrument covers after each use. The use the disposable covers or non-contact tonometry is preferable in the absence of effective disinfectant processes at this time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zoreh Davanipour
- Department of Neurology, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA 92350, USA
| | - Eugene Sobel
- Department of Neurology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA ; Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
| | - Argyrios Ziogas
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
| | - Carey Smoak
- Department of Neurology, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA 92350, USA
| | - Thomas Bohr
- Department of Neurology, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA 92350, USA
| | - Keith Doram
- Department of Internal Medicine, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA 92350, USA
| | - Boleslaw Liwnicz
- Department of Pathology, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA 92350, USA
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Calvert G, Murray CA, Smith AJ, Hurrell D. Availability of manufacturers' information on efficacy and compatibility of detergents used for cleaning dental instruments. Br Dent J 2012; 212:E16. [PMID: 22627254 DOI: 10.1038/sj.bdj.2012.419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/12/2012] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
AIM To review physico-chemical data supplied for commercially available detergents marketed for manual and/or ultrasonic cleansing of reusable dental instruments. METHOD Manufacturers/suppliers of commercially available detergents for manual or ultrasonic cleaning of dental instruments within primary dental care were invited to supply product information. A structured questionnaire requested details on a range of physical and chemical properties for each detergent. RESULTS Seventeen detergent manufacturers/suppliers, encompassing 31 commercially available detergents were identified. Ten of the 17 manufacturers provided information on 23 (74%) of the detergent formulations. Nine detergents were of neutral pH, ten mild alkalis (pH 7.5-10.5) and four strong alkalis (pH >10.5). Sixteen detergents were recommended for ultrasonic and manual cleaning, four stated ultrasonic use and three manual only. Ten detergents cited enzymatic activity as their main mode of action, but only six manufacturers provided detailed information. Four detergents recommended by manufacturers as suitable for manual washing had a strong alkaline pH (>10.5), presenting chemical hazards to users. Two strong alkaline detergents did not warn users of potential adverse effects of such alkaline solutions (corrosion) upon aluminium containing instruments. Only one detergent had investigated the potential toxicity of detergent residuals remaining on instruments after reprocessing. CONCLUSION It has proven challenging to collate physico-chemical data on detergents suitable for use in manual and/or ultrasonic cleaning of dental instruments in general dental practice. Standardisation of information on the nature and efficacy of dental detergents in a readily accessible form would be beneficial to dental practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Calvert
- Infection and Immunity Research Group, University of Glasgow Dental School and Hospital, Glasgow, UK.
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Wu X, Thomson G, Tang B. An investigation into the impact of safety features on the ergonomics of surgical scalpels. APPLIED ERGONOMICS 2009; 40:424-432. [PMID: 19084819 DOI: 10.1016/j.apergo.2008.11.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2007] [Revised: 10/28/2008] [Accepted: 11/10/2008] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
In the case of surgical scalpels, blade retraction and disposability have been incorporated into a number of commercial designs to address sharps injury and infection transmission issues. Despite these new designs, the traditional metal reusable scalpel is still extensively used and this paper attempts to determine whether the introduction of safety features has compromised the ergonomics and so potentially the take-up of the newer designs. Examples of scalpels have been analysed to determine the ergonomic impact of these design changes. Trials and questionnaires were carried out using both clinical and non-clinical user groups, with the trials making use of assessment of incision quality, cutting force, electromyography and video monitoring. The results showed that ergonomic performance was altered by the design changes and that while these could be for the worse, the introduction of safety features could act as a catalyst to encourage re-evaluation of the ergonomic demands of a highly traditional product.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuefang Wu
- Division of Mechanical Engineering & Mechatronics, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 4HN, UK
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Abstract
Bovine spongiform encephalopathy is an infectious disease of cattle that is transmitted through the consumption of meat-and-bone meal from infected cattle. The etiologic agent is an aberrant isoform of the native cellular prion protein that is a normal component of neurologic tissue. There currently are no approved tests that can detect BSE in live cattle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jane L Harman
- Food Safety and Inspection Service, Office of Public Health Science, USDA, 1400 Independence Ave SW, Washington, DC 20250, USA
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Sarrigiannis PG, Kennett RP, Read S, Farrugia ME. Single-fiber EMG with a concentric needle electrode: validation in myasthenia gravis. Muscle Nerve 2006; 33:61-5. [PMID: 16175626 DOI: 10.1002/mus.20435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
We performed a retrospective study to validate whether a disposable concentric needle electrode (CNE) can be used in place of a single-fiber (SF) electrode for jitter measurements in myasthenia gravis (MG). Normal values for voluntary contraction of orbicularis oculi (OO) and extensor digitorum communis (EDC) were collected from 20 healthy subjects. The method was validated by a retrospective analysis of 56 consecutive MG patients, the "gold standard" being a positive acetylcholine receptor (AChR) antibody titer at the time of the electrophysiological (electromyography) study and the clinical diagnosis. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were constructed to define maximal sensitivity and specificity of the technique. The sensitivity was 96.4% (95% confidence interval 87.5%-99.6%), with no false-positive results, similar to traditional SF EMG and confirming that the disposable CNE is a justifiable alternative.
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Abstract
Prion diseases, also called transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs), are a family of neurodegenerative disorders affecting both humans and animals. They are caused by the accumulation of an abnormal form of a protein known as prion that results in neuronal death and a characteristic spongiform appearance of the brain tissue. Human prion diseases can be sporadic, acquired or hereditary. Acquired prion diseases have been linked to entering contaminated food into the human food chain, failure to completely disinfect or sterilize contaminated surgical instruments, patients receiving tissues and organs from infected donors, recipients of blood and other biological contaminated products, and potentially to cross infection in dental procedures. At present, there is unfortunately no efficient therapy that can be administered to clinically infected patients with prion diseases. Moreover, there are no simple diagnostic tests that can be used to show the agent of transmissible spongiform encephalopathy during the preclinical phase of the disease. Therefore, to prevent the spread of this emerging infectious agent it is necessary to implement several health control strategies and maintain surveillance for subclinical infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Javier Ena
- Internal Medicine Department, Marina Baixa Hospital, Villajoyosa, Alicante, Spain.
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Abstract
The cause of the original case or cases of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) remains an enigma. Sheep scrapie or a previously undetected sporadic bovine transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE) have long been considered as candidates, but no convincing evidence to support these proposals has come to light. We present a new theory, with three related hypotheses: (1) that BSE was acquired from a human TSE (prion disease); (2) that the route of infection was oral, through animal feed containing imported mammalian raw materials contaminated with human remains; and (3) that the origin was the Indian subcontinent, from which large amounts of mammalian material were imported during the relevant time period. Human remains are known to be incorporated into meal made locally, and may still be entering exported material. Further investigations are needed into the sources of animal by-products used in animal feed manufacture, and into the the transmissibility of human TSEs to cattle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alan C F Colchester
- Kent Institute of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Kent, Canterbury CT2 7PD, UK.
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Pauli G. Tissue Safety in View of CJD and Variant CJD. Cell Tissue Bank 2005; 6:191-200. [PMID: 16151959 DOI: 10.1007/s10561-005-0336-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2005] [Accepted: 06/23/2005] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Epidemiological studies on human transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease, CJD) have shown that the agent could be transmitted by highly infectious tissues like brain, spinal cord or retina and medicinal products derived from these tissues (i.e. human growth hormone, dura mater). A few cases of transmission of CJD by neurosurgical instruments have been reported. The transmission of the agent of variant CJD, which is suspected to be transmitted by BSE-contaminated food, by blood transfusion implies that in contrast to the agent of classical CJD this agent can also be transmitted by organs and tissues other than nerve tissues. Health authorities have implemented guidelines to reduce the risk of transmission of human and animal TSE by human and veterinary medicinal products. The high resistance of TSE agents against physical or chemical treatment hamper the development of highly efficient inactivation steps in the production of medicinal products. Donor selection is considered as an efficient measure to reduce the risk of TSE transmission. However, the development of rapid, sensitive and specific diagnostic test systems is urgently required to test blood, organs and tissue of donors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georg Pauli
- Center for Biological Safety, Robert Koch-Institut, Nordufer 20, 13353 Berlin, Germany.
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Hirsch N, Beckett A, Collinge J, Scaravilli F, Tabrizi S, Berry S. Lymphocyte contamination of laryngoscope blades - a possible vector for transmission of variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. Anaesthesia 2005; 60:664-7. [PMID: 15960716 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2044.2005.04221.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD) is associated with extensive prion infection of lymphoreticular tissues during the prolonged asymptomatic incubation period. Instruments exposed to infected tissues of preclinically infected individuals during medical or surgical procedures represent a potential risk of iatrogenic transmission of vCJD prions. We assessed the frequency of contamination with lymphoid tissue of single-use laryngoscope blades used for tracheal intubation for general anaesthesia. Using a cyto-centrifugation technique, lymphocytes were detected from 30% of laryngoscope blades studied. As prions resist routine sterilisation procedures, the use of non-disposable laryngoscope blades poses a risk of transmitting vCJD from patient to patient. The use of such instruments should be abandoned and disposable alternatives used.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Hirsch
- Department of Neuroanaesthesia, The National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG, UK.
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Lemmer K, Mielke M, Pauli G, Beekes M. Decontamination of surgical instruments from prion proteins: in vitro studies on the detachment, destabilization and degradation of PrPSc bound to steel surfaces. J Gen Virol 2004; 85:3805-3816. [PMID: 15557254 DOI: 10.1099/vir.0.80346-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Effective reprocessing of surgical instruments ensuring elimination of inadvertent contamination with infectious agents causing transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) is essential for the prevention of iatrogenic transmission of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) or its new variant (vCJD) from asymptomatic carriers. In a search for effective yet instrument-friendly and routinely applicable reprocessing procedures, we used an in vitro carrier assay to assess the decontamination activity exerted by different reagents on pathological prion protein (PrP(Sc)), the biochemical marker for TSE infectivity, attached to steel surfaces. In this assay, steel wires were contaminated with 263K scrapie brain homogenate and reprocessed for decontamination by exposure to several different test reagents. Residual contamination with PrP(Sc) and its protease-resistant core PrP27-30, still present after reprocessing on the wire surface or in the cleaning solution, was monitored by sensitive Western blot detection without or after proteinase K digestion. Using this approach, various reagents and processing conditions were screened for both their efficacy of decontamination and their active principles, such as detachment, destabilization or degradation of surface-bound prion protein. This revealed that, under appropriate conditions, relatively mild reagents such as 0.2 % SDS/0.3 % NaOH (pH 12.8), a commercially available alkaline cleaner (pH 11.9-12.2), a disinfectant containing 0.2 % peracetic acid and low concentrations of NaOH (pH 8.9) or 5 % SDS (pH 7.1) exert potent decontaminating activities on PrP(Sc)/PrP27-30 attached to steel surfaces. For in vivo validation, wires reprocessed in these reagents have been implanted into reporter animals in ongoing experiments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karin Lemmer
- P24 - Transmissible spongiforme Enzephalopathien, Robert Koch-Institut, Nordufer 20, 13353 Berlin, Germany
| | - Martin Mielke
- FG 14 - Angewandte Krankenhaushygiene und Infektionsprävention, Robert Koch-Institut, Nordufer 20, 13353 Berlin, Germany
| | - Georg Pauli
- ZBS1 - Hochpathogene virale Erreger, Robert Koch-Institut, Nordufer 20, 13353 Berlin, Germany
| | - Michael Beekes
- P24 - Transmissible spongiforme Enzephalopathien, Robert Koch-Institut, Nordufer 20, 13353 Berlin, Germany
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