CJD
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Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease</H2>
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<SPAN style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </SPAN>The mind becomes demented, the muscles begin to lose control of their functions, and neurological breakdown occurs. Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease is a fatal disease that is rare and has no cure. Life as this person knows it begins to come to an end. CJD is an infectious disease that is not very common in surgical patients. When it does rear its head in the life of that person and the surgical team taking care of them great care and reproach must be maintained to ensure that it is not spread elsewhere. Greater patient care must be asserted so that the disease is not spread beyond the patient to others who are at risk to its exposure. Life must be monitored so it maybe maintained for others who are at risk to this life changing disease.
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<SPAN style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </SPAN>Two German psychiatrists Hans Gerhard Creutzfeldt and Alfons Maria Jakob discovered Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in the early 20<SUP>th</SUP> century. CJD is classified as a central nervous system disease. Its etiology is unidentified at this time, but it is believed to be a slow acting virus. The cause of the infection has been determined but is yet to be thoroughly separated by scientists. Donors who have received implants from infected CJD patients have developed the disease as well. It is therefore very susceptible to transfer from one patient to another. There is no available treatment to remedy the disease at this moment.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The trek of this disease is fatal to the one infected with it (Taber, 1993).<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com
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<SPAN style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </SPAN>It has been seen that initially CJD has no inflammatory reaction in the brain but it does without a doubt kill brain cells. It is thought CJD is linked to genetic factors that make it susceptible to the development of irregular proteins in the brain. The disease can be in hiding for up to three decades before it comes to the surface. After it does become <o
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known it acts quickly and leads to coma and death within two years of developing its first symptoms. The disease is diagnosed by the noticed change of a electroencephalogram. A brain biopsy is also made for protein prion gathering and the destruction of neurons. Autopsies have shown that thirteen percent of patients who had Alzheimer’s disease also carried CJD (Fortunato, 2000).<o
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<SPAN style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </SPAN>CJD is resistant to many types of sterilization. It is known to withstand destruction by heat, chemicals, radiation, freezing, drying, and organic detergents. The best way to sterilize items that have come into contact with the disease is steam sterilization. One hour in a gravity sterilizer at 274 degrees Fahrenheit or 18 minutes in a prevacuum sterilizer at 274 degrees Fahrenheit. Unfortunately, tissue cannot be sterilized even with the use of formalin (Fortunato, 2000).<o
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<SPAN style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </SPAN>To dispose of waste infected with the disease one should follow the rules for blood-borne pathogens. These rules should be strictly adhered to by all personnel associated with contact to the disease. Suction canisters and cleaning agents should not be disposed of in the sewer system. Rules set by the facility in which the patient is located should be followed. The policies and procedures set by the institution are to be followed closely. Statistics show that over eighty percent of CJD cases have an unexplained origin. Human tissue and bodily fluid are carriers of the disease. Unfortunately, there is no treatment or cure if one is to come infected with the disease (Fortunato, 2000).<o
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<SPAN style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </SPAN>This has been a brief introduction to the disease. Its purpose was to provide a brief insight into the disease before delving into the components that make up the disease. The presentation of this information was for one to understand a little of the disease before I
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moved on to a in depth discussion. What will be presented now will touch on the components that make up the disease and its processes with much more detail. These components include but are not limited to causes and risks, transmission, prevention, symptoms, treatment, and prognosis.
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<SPAN style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </SPAN>Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease is defined as being an organic brain syndrome. It is<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>believed to be caused by a virus. The rate of infection is about one in a million people. It makes it one of the most rarest of all infectious diseases. CJD is found in persons ranging in age from 20 to the late 60’s. It comes to surface mainly in the middle part of the patient’s lifetime. The median age for persons being afflicted with the disease are between 57 and 62. This is when the symptoms usually first appear (Zerr, 2000).<o
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<SPAN style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </SPAN>Cases show that teenagers who received thyroid hormone derived from cadavers were even getting the disease. Despite the fact that the measures were taken to kill all bacteria and viruses that could be present in the pituitary hormone. This gave belief as to how these young patients were developing the disease. The hormone was soon replaced with a synthetic hormone and contamination no longer became an issue for these patients. Subjects of the disease who were recipients of transplants from diseased hosts received the disease as well. Patients who received implants from those who had the disease were diagnosed as having CJD. A major example of these cases came from cornea implants. CJD is believed to be<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>an inherited trait. Family members who have had this disorder or similar neurological disorders make this class of patients’ risk to the disease much higher. Another primary developer of the disease is the health care worker. Those who work in immediate contact to infected tissue are very susceptible to the disease. A surgeon or <o
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other surgical team member is put at undue risk for the disease. Extreme care should be taken to ensure the disease is not passed on. The last major cause of the disease is other diseases themselves. Diseases including kuru, srapie, and bovine spongiform encephalitis have all been linked to as a causative agent of CJD (Yahoo, 2001)<o
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<SPAN style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </SPAN>There are stets for prevention of CJD. A few were discussed briefly in the opening. But, there are other steps that can be taken in addition to those. Neurological examinations help to dwindle the risk of infection to others. Along with the proper cleaning and disposal of items that may contain the presence of the disease lessened chances do arise. A careful examination of the patient’s medical history is important to seeing if the disease is present. These few guidelines can help ensure that the passage of the disease does not occur (WebMD, 1999).<o
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<SPAN style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </SPAN>There are several symptoms that do exist for CJD. The include the following ones a change in personality occurs. Hallucinations become prevalent in the patient. They begin to have muscle spasms and develop tightness in these muscles as well. The also begin to develop signs of nervousness and feel jumpy. They also begin to walk differently. CJD patients begin to lose basic control of their motor functions. Their speech will become impaired. They will also have their ability to enunciate diminish. Patients also develop the tendency to become sleepier. Dementia becomes evident after some time has passed as well. The worsening of their sight begins to develop over time. The patients also begin to suffer memory loss and feelings of anxiety. All these symptoms can be linked to CJD (Yahoo, 2001).<o
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<SPAN style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </SPAN>Diagnosis for CJD is a relatively hard one to come by until the symptoms become present. There is no early screening available to catch the disease. As mentioned before diagnosis can be made by brain biopsy or electroencephalogram. Another measure to view the existence of CJD in a patient is by the use of<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>imaging by machines. CAT scans are used to view the brain to see if the disease is present in the brain. In addition the use of MRI technology can be used as well to see if CJD has become evident in a patient. These both give three-dimensional pictures of the brain to see if the disease could possibly be there (Zerr, 2000).<o
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<SPAN style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </SPAN>There is no present cure available for Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. There are a few treatments available to help lessen the symptoms of CJD. Medication is prescribed to help keep the patient’s emotional balance in line. Another person who can take care of one infected with CJD is highly recommended. These patients often need monitoring and assistance. Counseling services made be used as well to help family members who have a loved one infected with CJD. Counseling may be needed for the patient as well. After these steps have been taken it is strongly recommended that advanced directives and power of attorney be set up by the patient be set up early on to help with any decisions that may come to be after the disease has finally come full circle (WebMD, 1999).<o
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<SPAN style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </SPAN>The prognosis for patients infected with CJD is grim. They develop complete dementia within six months. The disease itself usually is fatal within seven months of its onset. A few patients have managed to live as long as one or two years. Death usually comes in the form of an infection, respiratory failure, or by heart failure. Complications <o
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of the disease also include the loss to care for themselves, the ability to interact with others, or side effects from their medication (Yahoo, 2001).<o
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<SPAN style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </SPAN>As seen by the research presented CJD is a very debilitating and life changing disease. It is a very important infection control problem if<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>persons come into contact with the disease. Anyone who becomes subject to its wrath is in for the worse. CJD is not an emergency disorder. It is however a disease that is diagnosable for those inflicted with it. It can be caught very early stages if steps are taken by the patient and its doctor. This can lead to better control of symptoms and the patient. Always remember the patient is the very first priority the realm of healthcare. Steps must always be maintained to ensure a better life for each one inflicted with an ailment. <o
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References</H2>
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<SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt">Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease</SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt"> [Online]. Available: Invalid Link Removed</SPAN>[/URL] [February 21, 2001].<o
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<SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt">Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease</SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt"> [Online]. Available: Invalid Link Removed</SPAN>[/URL] [February 18, 2001].<o
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Fortunato, N. H. (2000). Berry & Kohn’s Operating Room Technique. St. Louis, MS: Mosby.<o
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<SPAN style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </SPAN>Thomas, C. L. (Ed.). Taber’s Encyclopedic Medical Dictionary. Philadelphia: F. A. Davis Company.<o
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<SPAN style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </SPAN>Zerr, D. (February 18, 2000). Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease [Online]. Available: Invalid Link Removed (February 18, 2000).</SPAN>
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This is a paper I wrote a while back on the diseae uncorrected of course
Hope this helps.</SPAN>