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The lab changes under development should include a protocol for protection _after_ accidental prion-disease needle sticks. Prophylaxis protocols exist for clini

The lab changes under development should include a protocol for protection _after_ accidental prion-disease needle sticks. Prophylaxis protocols exist for clinicians dealing with HIV, hepatitis, etc. [0] A radical (barbaric) way might be to immediately tourniquet the finger, anesthetize, and cut off the tip! They could hang a little guillotine next to the eye-wash station.... [0] https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/bbp/emergnedl.html https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/bbp/emergnedl.html

thingsgoup 5y ago
The article does mention she was supposed to soak her thumb in bleach immediately and did not.
- SteveNuts 5y ago
  Does bleach actually denature prions? I thought they were notoriously difficult to destroy
  - FeteCommuniste 5y ago
    Seems that it does: https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/household-bleach-inactivates-chronic-wasting-disease-prions https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/household-blea... "A 5-minute soak in a 40% solution of household bleach decontaminated stainless steel wires coated with chronic wasting disease (CWD) prions, according to a new study by National Institutes of Health scientists." Although it notes: "Notably, the study failed to find an effective method to decontaminate CWD-infected solid tissue. Pieces of CWD-infected brain retained prion activity even after a 30-minute soak in 100% bleach. Investigators note that bleach fails to penetrate tissues and should be used only as a surface decontaminant."
  - beowulfey 5y ago
    They are, but almost all proteins are sensitive to the oxidative power of bleach
    - rainbowzootsuit 5y ago
      Maybe a future Clorox commercial there.
- dunefox 5y ago
  What would that accomplish if the prions are inside your thumb already?
Aeolun 5y ago
Only works if you actually cut yourself in the fingertip though. Will you guilotine your entire hand if you cut a bit higher? I mean… probably, but you’d need a bigger guillotine. And now having a hand sized guillotine in the lab is a bigger safety hazard.
- dunefox 5y ago
  > And now having a hand sized guillotine in the lab is a bigger safety hazard. Come on now, it's not like it would be a giant curved blade hanging freely from the ceiling into middle of the room.
tasogare 5y ago
I was thinking the other day of that story and came to the same conclusion: since prions are always fatal, why not cut the finger/hand in case of infection? It's radical yes but better safe than sorry.

thingsgoup 5y ago

The article does mention she was supposed to soak her thumb in bleach immediately and did not.

SteveNuts 5y ago
Does bleach actually denature prions? I thought they were notoriously difficult to destroy
- FeteCommuniste 5y ago
  Seems that it does: https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/household-bleach-inactivates-chronic-wasting-disease-prions https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/household-blea... "A 5-minute soak in a 40% solution of household bleach decontaminated stainless steel wires coated with chronic wasting disease (CWD) prions, according to a new study by National Institutes of Health scientists." Although it notes: "Notably, the study failed to find an effective method to decontaminate CWD-infected solid tissue. Pieces of CWD-infected brain retained prion activity even after a 30-minute soak in 100% bleach. Investigators note that bleach fails to penetrate tissues and should be used only as a surface decontaminant."
- beowulfey 5y ago
  They are, but almost all proteins are sensitive to the oxidative power of bleach
  - rainbowzootsuit 5y ago
    Maybe a future Clorox commercial there.
dunefox 5y ago
What would that accomplish if the prions are inside your thumb already?

Aeolun 5y ago

Only works if you actually cut yourself in the fingertip though. Will you guilotine your entire hand if you cut a bit higher? I mean… probably, but you’d need a bigger guillotine. And now having a hand sized guillotine in the lab is a bigger safety hazard.

dunefox 5y ago
> And now having a hand sized guillotine in the lab is a bigger safety hazard. Come on now, it's not like it would be a giant curved blade hanging freely from the ceiling into middle of the room.

tasogare 5y ago

I was thinking the other day of that story and came to the same conclusion: since prions are always fatal, why not cut the finger/hand in case of infection? It's radical yes but better safe than sorry.