Guidance

Minimise transmission risk of CJD and vCJD in healthcare settings

Prevention of CJD and vCJD by the Advisory Committee on Dangerous Pathogens' Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy (ACDP TSE) subgroup.

• From: Department of Health and Social Care
• Published: 27 November 2012
• Last updated: 18 November 2021
  Show all updates

  1. 18 November 2021

     Updated part 3: 'Laboratory containment and control measures'.

  2. 10 August 2017

     Added explanatory diagrams to Annex J.

  3. 22 October 2015

     Added updated document: Annex F: Endoscopy.

  4. 13 July 2015

     Uploaded updated versions of Annex A1, Annex F and the Acknowledgements.

  5. 15 May 2015

     Sections on Infection control and annexes C and F have been updated to reflect the latest scientific research.

  6. 13 May 2013

     Updated version of Annex J on Presurgical Assessment

  7. 27 November 2012

     First published.

Applies to England

Documents

Introduction

PDF, 105 KB, 10 pages

Health and safety management of transmissible spongiform encephalopathy

PDF, 34.5 KB, 12 pages

Laboratory containment and control measures (updated November 2021)

PDF, 289 KB, 23 pages

Infection control of CJD, vCJD and other human prion diseases in healthcare and community settings

PDF, 448 KB, 23 pages

Annex A1: distribution of transmissible spongiform encephalopathy infectivity in human tissues and body fluids

PDF, 227 KB, 5 pages

Annex A2: distribution of infectivity in animal tissue and body fluids

PDF, 73.1 KB, 7 pages

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

Request an accessible format

If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email publications@dhsc.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Annex B: diagnostic criteria

PDF, 45.7 KB, 4 pages

Annex C: general principles of decontamination and waste disposal

PDF, 352 KB, 12 pages

Annex D: transport of transmissible spongiform encephalopathy-infected material

PDF, 122 KB, 16 pages

Annex E: quarantining of surgical instruments

PDF, 89.1 KB, 3 pages

Annex F: endoscopy

PDF, 636 KB, 24 pages

Annex H: after death

PDF, 99.2 KB, 6 pages

Annex I: outline protocol for management of instruments and tissues from brain biopsy procedures on patients with progressive neurological disorders

PDF, 47 KB, 5 pages

Annex J: assessment to be carried out before surgery and or endoscopy to identify patients with, or at risk of, CJD or vCJD

PDF, 202 KB, 14 pages

Annex K: guidelines for pathologists and pathology laboratories for the handling of tissues from patients with, or at risk of, CJD or vCJD

PDF, 86.7 KB, 12 pages

Annex L: managing CJD/vCJD risk in ophthalmology

PDF, 212 KB, 30 pages

Annex M: managing vCJD risk in general surgery and liver transplantation

PDF, 113 KB, 9 pages

CJD guidance for ophthalmologists

PDF, 179 KB, 3 pages

Information sheet for funeral directors, relatives and others following a CJD death

PDF, 17.2 KB, 1 page

Alert to urological surgeons regarding the equipment used for patients at risk of vCJD requiring transrectal prostatic biopsy

PDF, 58.9 KB, 1 page

Frequently asked questions

PDF, 237 KB, 5 pages

Abbreviations

PDF, 32.5 KB, 1 page

Acknowledgements

PDF, 109 KB, 4 pages

Details

This guidance produced by the ACDP TSE risk management subgroup aims to help minimise the risk of transmission of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) and variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD) in healthcare and other work settings.