Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease Management of Accidental Contamination of Neurosurgical Instruments, Pathology Equipment, and Solutions

To the Editor:We describe the measures taken to identify, triage, and decontaminate equipment and solutions following a brain biopsy on a previously unidentified case of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD).Immediately after the neuropathologist notified the Infection Control Department of the positive histopathology for CJD, the Sterile Supply Department and Neurosurgical Operating Room staff reviewed the operating room records and determined that a ventriculogram set and a craniotomy set (including the Midas-Rex drill and bits and Roton dissectors) had been used.The washed equipment was located, along with other neurosurgical items, on a cart washer, awaiting sterilization.All potentially contaminated neurosurgical equipment processed with the CJD case was labeled "CJD Precautions," autoclaved at 134°C for 18 minutes, and isolated pending a decision regarding its fate.