Hospitals to get guidelines to cut CJD infection risk

HOSPITALS are to receive stringent guidelines to eliminate the risk of patients contracting CJD through infected surgical equipment.

The National Disease Surveillance Centre (NDSC) plans to publish the guidelines by the end of the year to ensure all hospitals adhere to internationally-recognised best practice.

Of seven suspected cases of CJD transmission via infected surgical instruments in the 1970s, two were confirmed. The NDSC says there have been no cases since 1976.