Disposable Instruments for operations

[Beaaware]

Are disposable instruments still in use in hospitals as I have heard that it is still possible to be infected with Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease from contaminated instruments. I remember that they were using disposable instruments for removing tonsils some years ago is this still the case? I am not aware of any hospitals in the UK that are actually able to de-contaminate instruments to destroy rogue prions, can anyone enlighten me on this?

Info here relevant to vCJD/TSE (Transmissable Spongiform Encephalopathy)

www.dh.gov.uk/ab/ACDP/TSEguidance/DH_098253

thanks for the link, it confirms that vCJD can still be spread via surgical instruments, worrying to say the least. Why on earth do they not decontaminate them to remove the dangerous pathogens, we have the means, I presume the same applies to dental instruments.