Transplants, grafts and surgery

Iatrogenic transmission of CJD has been reported from corneal transplants in the eye, implantation of dura mater or electrodes in the brain, and use of contaminated surgical instruments.

Current recommendations are to use as many disposable items in surgery as possible because disinfection of the abnormal prions is unusually difficult. Surgical instruments used on people with CJD or suspected CJD are destroyed after use. Organ and tissue banks also do not accept donations from people with known or suspected CJD. New cases of iatrogenic CJD from transplants, grafts, and surgery have sharply declined in recent years.

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