Minister Accepts CJD Review Report

Improved procedures for preventing and managing exposure to Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD) in Nova Scotia are among the recommendations of a report submitted to Health Minister Angus MacIsaac today, Aug. 5.

The report includes 16 recommendations relating to communication between organizations, notification of patients and the public, surveillance, infection control guidelines, infection control capacity, laboratories and enhanced patient safety. The recommendations are to be carried out by the department in collaboration with district health authorities. It also includes four recommendations that have been forwarded to Health Canada.

"This was an extremely valuable process," said Mr. MacIsaac. "I'm pleased that the review team developed recommendations that will not only improve procedures for preventing and managing exposure to CJD in the future, but that will have benefit for other situations that may involve notification of patients."

The joint review was requested by the minister in April to study the issues of CJD prevention and management after concern was raised about possible exposure to CJD at two Nova Scotia hospitals during April and May 2004. Risk of contamination with instruments exposed to CJD was later ruled out in the case of both hospitals.

The report -- titled Report of the Review of Events around suspected Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD) in Nova Scotia -- identifies successes and challenges in the processes followed during that time.

Mr. MacIsaac said that the organizations involved are committed to acting on the recommendations immediately, and several of the recommendations are already being addressed.

"We recognize that the actions we take now will benefit the provincial health-care system as a whole, and likely at the national and international levels as well," said the minister.

The review team was lead by Patrick Lee, executive director of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Charlottetown, P.E.I., and included representatives from Health Canada, the Nova Scotia Department of Health, Capital Health and South West Health.

"I was extremely pleased with the review team's co-operation, openness and unreserved willingness to share from this experience," said Mr. Lee. "Their ability to take an objective look at their actions in such a difficult situation is commended. They are very committed to taking the steps necessary to strengthen patient safety in Nova Scotia."

The full report and recommendations are available on the Department of Health's website at www.gov.ns.ca/health .