NR AOQE
AU Baxter,H.C.; Whittaker,A.G.; Campbell,G.A.; Aitken,A.; Jones,A.C.; Baxter,R.L.
TI Minimising the Risk of Iatrogenic Transmission: Gas Plasma Treatment as an Effective Method for Decontamination of Surgical Instruments
QU International Conference - Prion diseases: from basic research to intervention concepts - TSE-Forum, 08.10.-10.10.2003, Gasteig, München - Poster session - BR-10
PT Konferenz-Poster
AB
The risk of iatrogenic transmission of CJD is a topic of growing concern in health care. This concern is further heightened by reports of the strong surface affinity of the prion protein and the marked resistance of the infectious agent to conventional chemical and thermal decontamination procedures. Ensuring that there is no cross-contamination from patients in a pre clinical phase of the disease poses a unique problem. The significance attached to the potential threat posed by transmission of sporadic or variant CJD by surgical instruments has led the Department of Health in the UK to consider new guidelines for decontamination procedures. Obviously, to minimise potential cross-contamination risks, new methods for removal of all traces of organic material from surgical instruments must be assessed.
In this study we show evidence of proteins on the surfaces of surgical instruments which have been subjected to conventional hospital cleaning methods and we have evaluated the use of microwave gas plasmas as an effective method for the removal of this contamination. The treatment process was monitored by scanning electron microscopy and by X-ray elemental analysis. As a test system we can demonstrate, using a direct protein fluorescence assay, the effectiveness of these treatments on surgical grade stainless steel discs contaminated with mouse brain homogenate.
In contrast to conventional methods of cleaning, such as the use of solvents or aggressive chemicals, plasma cleaning leaves no toxic residue effects, and when optimised, typically generates only CO2, H2O and N2 as a gaseous waste.
AD H.C. Baxter, A.G. Whittaker, G.A. Campbell, A. Aitken, A.C. Jones, R.L. Baxter, University of Edinburgh, UK
SP englisch
PO Deutschland