Neurosurgery Could Spread Protein Linked To Alzheimer's, Study Finds (theguardian.com)

An anonymous reader quotes a report from The Guardian: Surgical instruments used in brain operations should be treated to ensure they are not contaminated with proteins linked to Alzheimer's disease, according to scientists who found evidence that they may be spread by certain medical procedures. The researchers urged doctors to decontaminate neurosurgical tools more thoroughly as a precautionary measure to reduce the potential risk of spreading abnormal proteins known to build up in the brains of Alzheimer's patients. Prof John Collinge, director of the Medical Research Council prion unit at University College London, said that while Alzheimer's disease was not contagious, there was a slim risk that harmful proteins that drive the disease could spread through brain surgery and other rare procedures.

Comments

Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease

[LagFlag]

This has been an issue for years since the recognition of Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease as a prion disease. Hospitals are more and more moving to disposable equipment, although this is not yet possible for neurosurgical instruments. Special cleaning procedures are already in place for surgeries having a high risk of contamination.

pernicious: an apt term for prions

[swell]

Not sure why they left out the more ominous method by which these proteins can spread: eye surgery. Eye surgery is fairly common and not normally associated with such grave dangers. Those affected by these proteins (they are called 'prions'), invariably have them living in optical neural tissues. Surgeons, who may schedule multiple operations per day, need to find a better way to sterilize their instruments as the proteins are resistant to normal techniques. These discoveries seem to be new for some reason.

This has been my first opportunity to use the word 'pernicious', an exquisite word that has somehow escaped my notice until today. Thank you, dear Slashdot readers, for allowing me this occasion.