Reducing the risk of cross-contamination from transmissible spongiform encephalopathies.

IN RESPONSE TO RECENT REPORTS from several major US medical centers regarding possible exposure of surgical patients to transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs), one institution developed guidelines to care for surgical patients with the preoperative diagnosis of "rule out TSE." BASED ON CURRENT sterilization technology, using disposable surgical instruments may be the safest way to eliminate concerns of iatrogenic transmission of TSE and reduce the number of hospital staff members who could be exposed to the TSE contagion. PERIOPERATIVE PRECAUTIONS that can be taken when patients are undergoing brain biopsy procedures to rule out TSE are detailed.