Novel methods for disinfection of prion-contaminated medical devices.

Background: The unique resistance of prions to classic methods of decontamination, and evidence that prion diseases can be transmitted iatrogenically by medical devices pose a serious infection control challenge to health-care facilities. In view of the widespread tissue distribution of the variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease agent in human beings, new practicable decontamination procedures are urgently needed.

Methods: We adapted an in-vivo method using stainless steel wires contaminated with prions to the hamster-adapted scrapie strain 263K.