advertisement
Abstract #9741 Published in IGR 5-3
Minimizing the risk of prion transmission by contact tonometry
Amin SZ; Smith L; Luthert PJ; Cheetham ME; Buckley RJBritish Journal of Ophthalmology 2003; 87: 1360-1362
AIMS: The unknown prevalence of variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD) in the UK population has led to fears of horizontal transmission through routine medical procedures. The potential risk of transmission via contact tonometry was examined. METHODS: The total amount of protein carried over by tonometer tips after applanation of patients was assessed. RESULTS: Tonometer tips had an inherent ability to carry proteinaceous material. There was a large variability in the load carried over between individual patients. Rinsing tonometer tips in water reduced protein carryover. Wiping the tonometer tips also reduced carriage, though less dramatically. CONCLUSIONS: There is a small theoretical risk of transmission of vCJD by contact tonometry through reuse, but this should be reduced if the prisms are washed and wiped. In the light of these findings a protocol for the management of reusable tonometer prisms is recommended.
Dr. S.Z. Amin, Institute of Ophthalmology, Department of Pathology, Bath Street, London EC1V 9EL, UK
Classification:
6.1 Intraocular pressure measurement; factors affecting IOP (Part of: 6 Clinical examination methods)