Prions are quite difficult to inactivate. Table 2 in this paper:<p><a href="http:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.shea-online.org&#x2F;Assets&#x2F;files&#x2F;other_papers&#x2F;Prion.pdf" rel="nofollow">http:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.shea-online.org&#x2F;Assets&#x2F;files&#x2F;other_papers&#x2F;Prion.p...</a><p>shows data on what seems to work and not. &quot;Standard&quot; autoclave procedures don&#x27;t.<p>If the misfolded proteins referred to in the article share the inactivation robustness of prion proteins, it doesn&#x27;t seem all that remote a possibility that surgical instruments used on Alzheimers patients could spread the illness.<p>Anybody know if surgical instrument disinfection procedures vary according to the particulars of the patient they were used on?