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Lymphocyte contamination of laryngoscope blades – a possible vector for transmission of variant Creutzfeldt‐Jakob disease
Author(s) -
Hirsch N.,
Beckett A.,
Collinge J.,
Scaravilli F.,
Tabrizi S.,
Berry S.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
anaesthesia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.839
H-Index - 117
eISSN - 1365-2044
pISSN - 0003-2409
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2044.2005.04221.x
Subject(s) - medicine , asymptomatic , incubation period , disease , transmission (telecommunications) , contamination , intubation , surgery , pathology , incubation , ecology , biochemistry , chemistry , electrical engineering , biology , engineering
Summary 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.