This Flow Chart is a Summary of Actions for a Look-Back

Should the patient be identified as potentially CJD after surgical procedure,   quarantine instruments used on that patient and notify local health authority and CJD Advisory Committee.  Request next-of-kin to authorise brain autopsy to diagnose CJD with samples sent to the Australian National CJD Registry.

Should the patient be definite or probable CJD, then instruments reprocessed appropriately, taking into account any additional reprocessing advised by CJD Advisory Committee.  

Perform look-back if required.  Follow up patients and decide communications strategy.

Check to see if instruments to be destroyed – No – Instruments reprocessed appropriately, taking into account any additional reprocessing advised by CJD Advisory Committee, and put back into circulation.

Check to see if instruments to be destroyed – Yes – Destroy instruments by incineration or other approved method.

Should the patient be CJD excluded, instruments reprocessed appropriately, taking into account any additional reprocessing advised by CJD Advisory Committee, and put back into circulation.  Check to see if instruments to be destroyed – No - Instruments reprocessed appropriately, taking into account any additional reprocessing advised by CJD Advisory Committee, and put back into circulation.

Check to see if instruments to be destroyed – Yes – Destroy instruments by incineration or other approved method.