Antisepsis, Disinfection and Sterilization
30/30 Education Session - 30 minutes
.jpg "Aaron Vanderboegh, MPH photo")
Aaron Vanderboegh, MPH
Infection Preventionist
United Hospital
St. Paul, Minnesota
Nothing to disclose
.jpg "Mary Sibulsky, RN photo")
Mary Sibulsky, RN
Manager, AAAHC Surveyor
International Eye Institute
Green Valley, Arizona
AAAHC: Employment, NO compensation for this event.
This session will provide a high-level overview of prion-related illnesses and their implications on IPC practices in an operative setting. Topics that will be covered include:
1) Overview of an incident involving a Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease patient,
2) lessons learned from the incident,
3) the importance of a prion management plan, and
4) pertinent information to the creation of a plan.
This topic is important for all IPs whose facilities perform surgical procedures, especially neurosurgery, and corneal graft implants. Given the low incidence of prion-related diseases, many IPs will have had little to no experience with prions. As these diseases have a 100% mortality rate and the potential for iatrogenic transmission, it is paramount that IPs are aware of the dangers and familiar with proper prevention measures.