Microbiology: A Systems Approach 4th Edition by Marjorie Kelly Cowan

Exercise 22

Critical thinking is the ability to reason and solve problems using facts and concepts. These questions can be approached from a number of angles and, in most cases, they do not have a single correct answer.
a. A patient undergoing a medical procedure was unaware that he had a prion disease. Discuss the risks of using nondisposable medical equipment in the treatment of this patient.
b. Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy affecting white-tailed deer and elk. In 2005, venison from a deer testing positive for CWD was served during an annual wild-game dinner in the town of Verona in upstate New York. Based upon your knowledge of vCJD and related spongiform encephalopathies and any additional research you conduct, discuss whether any of the attendees are at risk for developing disease in the future.