Risk Factors Associated with Plastination: II. Infectious Agent Considerations

The technique of plastination often requires handling organs and tissues of human or animal origin. An ongoing concern associated with the plastination process has been risk of contracting infectious pathogens as the preparator works with such tissues. Human pathogens, including the agent causing Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) or the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and animal pathogens that affect humans (e.g., rabies virus, E. coli bacteria) have been of particular concern. This paper provides an overview of several viral and bacterial pathogens that may be of concern to plastinators as well as recommended methodologies for avoiding infection by these agents.