Minimise transmission risk of CJD and vCJD in healthcare settings - Guidance on prevention of CJD and vCJD by Advisory Committee on Dangerous Pathogens' Transmissible Spongiform encephalopathy (ACDP TSE) Risk Management Subgroup.

This guidance is divided into three main sections as follows: � Hazards and risk associated with workplace exposure to TSE agents (including information on health and safety law); � Containment and control measures for laboratory work with TSE agents, materials and infected animals (i.e. where there is deliberate intention to work with the agent or where laboratory workers are handling material that may contain the agent; � Infection control of CJD and related disorders in healthcare settings (i.e. where any exposure to the agent is incidental to the work). The purpose of this document is to provide guidance to employers on the precautions to control the risk of exposure of employees and others to TSE agents from work activities. The guidance applies to many occupations that involve contact with people or animals infected with TSE agents, or potentially contaminated material. It should also be drawn to the attention of those responsible for advising others who may come into contact with TSE during the course of their work. Included in these groups are: • laboratory staff (including experimental animal house staff); • healthcare workers (including infection control staff; medical and nursing staff particularly in neurology, ophthalmology, neuro- or ENT-surgery, oral and maxillofacial surgery ; and dentistry; sterile services supply staff and medical engineers); • staff involved in hospice and community care; • pathologists (including veterinary pathologists), pathology laboratory staff, post mortem technicians; • funeral, cemetery and crematorium workers; • local Consultants in Communicable Disease Control (CsCDC) and Health Protection Teams. Additional advice for veterinary surgeons and those involved in the transportation, slaughtering and processing of cattle and cattle products can be found in a separate Advisory Committee on Dangerous Pathogens publication “BSE Background and general occupational guidance'