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An Investigation of Potential Neurosurgical Transmission of Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease: Challenges and Lessons Learned

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 June 2016

Rachel L. Stricof*
Affiliation:
New York State Department of Health, Albany
Patricia P. Lillquist
Affiliation:
New York State Department of Health, Albany
Nadia Thomas
Affiliation:
New York State Department of Health, Albany
Ermias D. Belay
Affiliation:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia
Lawrence B. Schonberger
Affiliation:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia
Dale L. Morse
Affiliation:
New York State Department of Health, Albany
*
New York State Department of Health, Room 859 Corning Tower, Albany, NY 12237 (rls01@health.state.ny.us)

Abstract

In 2001, New York State health officials were notified about 2 patients with Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease who had undergone neurosurgical procedures at the same hospital within 43 days of each other. One patient had Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease at the time of surgery; the other patient developed Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease 6.5 years later. This investigation highlights the difficulties in assessing possible transmission of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.

Type
Concise Communications
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America 2006

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