Bovine spongiform encephalopathy and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease: background and implications for nursing practice.

Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease belongs to a group of rapidly progressive, fatal neurological disorders. Several cases of iatrogenic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) have been reported in the literature after neurosurgery and corneal grafting. The total number of people affected by CJD is unknown at this time, and it will remain unknown for some time to come. High infectious risks classification includes the brain, spinal cord, and eyes. Transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE) prions are resistant to steam sterilization, dry heat, ethylene oxide gas, and chemical disinfection. Prevention of prion transmission must be taken into account in daily practice. Efficient sterilization procedures should be determined.