Prion diseases and dental treatment: principles and practice of patients with/suspected or at-risk of CJD: case reports

Smith, A.J., Sweeney, M.P. and Bagg, J. (2003) Prion diseases and dental treatment: principles and practice of patients with/suspected or at-risk of CJD: case reports. British Dental Journal, 195(6), pp. 319-321. (doi: 10.1038/sj.bdj.4810542)

Abstract

The emergence of variant CJD (vCJD) in the last decade has heightened awareness of the need for rigorous infection control precautions in all healthcare environments. It has also raised particular problems in relation to the clinical management of patients who are either suffering from prion diseases or who are perceived as being 'at risk'. From the healthcare perspective CJD is of concern because at present it is an incurable, fatal disease and the causative agent, abnormal prion protein, is resistant to conventional inactivation procedures. Many healthcare workers are concerned about the risks of cross-infection when treating such patients. There are a number of guidelines for the management of CJD patients, though the information they provide sometimes appears contradictory and may require some interpretation in the clinical setting. This paper is based on real-life case scenarios and the advice given to dentists for the management of a group of patients with different manifestations of prion diseases.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Bagg, Professor Jeremy and Sweeney, Dr Petrina
• Authors: Smith, A.J., Sweeney, M.P., and Bagg, J.
• Subjects: Q Science > QR Microbiology; R Medicine > RK Dentistry; R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine > RA0421 Public health. Hygiene. Preventive Medicine
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences; College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Medicine, Dentistry & Nursing; College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Medicine, Dentistry & Nursing > Dental School
• Journal Name: British Dental Journal
• Publisher: Nature Publishing Group for the British Dental Association
• ISSN: 0007-0610
• Copyright Holders: © Copyright British Dental Journal
• First Published: First published in the British Dental Journal 195 (6):319 - 321
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher