Is immediate use steam sterilization recommended for instruments contaminated with Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease after use?

Immediate use steam sterilization is not recommended for instruments contaminated with Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) because of the unique resilience of prions, which are the infectious agents associated with this disease. CJD and other prion diseases are notorious for their resistance to standard sterilization processes, including steam sterilization.

While immediate use steam sterilization can be effective for various other microbial contaminants, it may not achieve the necessary level of disinfection required to eliminate prions completely. The recommended practices for instruments potentially contaminated with CJD include adherence to stringent sterilization methods specifically tailored for prion decontamination, such as using high temperatures and extended exposures beyond typical steam sterilization protocols.

The other choices imply certain conditions or situations where immediate use steam sterilization could be acceptable, but due to the nature of prion resistance and the potential risks they pose, immediate use steam sterilization alone does not meet the safety requirements for handling instruments contaminated with CJD.