Conservative Infection Prevention and Control Practices in a Patient With Confirmed Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease

Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) presents unique infection prevention and control (IPC) challenges because prions resist conventional disinfection and sterilization methods, and evidence guiding reusable endoscope reprocessing remains limited. We describe the management of a 61-year-old woman with confirmed sporadic CJD who required percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tube placement as part of her care plan. Following multidisciplinary risk assessment and consultation of available literature, device manufacturers, and sterile processing, the IPC team recommended an alternative approach to avoid potential prion contamination of reusable endoscopes. Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy placement was successfully performed through interventional radiology using single-use instrumentation, and associated medical waste was managed according to institutional policy. This case highlights the importance of early IPC involvement, multidisciplinary collaboration, and proactive risk assessment when evidence and guidelines are insufficient. Alternative procedural approaches may provide practical, conservative strategies to balance patient-centered care with infection prevention priorities, particularly in resource-constrained healthcare settings.