Why prions need special processing
CRCST practice question · Cleaning, Decontamination & Disinfection
Why do prions, such as those that cause Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD), require special processing precautions?
- A. They are unusually resistant to standard disinfection and sterilization methods
- B. They multiply rapidly in the decontamination sink if instruments are left wet
- C. They are destroyed only by ultrasonic cleaning, which most departments lack
- D. They can be transmitted through the air in the sterile storage area
Answer
A. They are unusually resistant to standard disinfection and sterilization methods
Prions are misfolded proteins that resist routine sterilization and disinfection methods, so procedures involving high-risk tissue require special handling defined by facility policy and recognized guidance. They are not living organisms that multiply, and ultrasonic cleaning alone does not destroy them.
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