We sterilize plenty of other common tools like scalpels so that doesn't seem like a valid reason. Obviously the disposable design is not even an adequate solution to the risk of cross contamination. I would imagine if it were a real concern you could easily add something like a color changing strip that would indicate whether the needle has been autoclaved since its last use without rendering it useless.
They can "survive" autoclave cycles that render other pathogens dead/inactive, but there do exist autoclave cycles that seem to pretty reliably inactivate prions.
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If you forget to autoclave them or not done properly you end up with infected patients, risk is just too much
Sounds like the same risk as this situation of reusing them.
Well if you’re going to infect people, might as well save money while doing so :)
We sterilize plenty of other common tools like scalpels so that doesn't seem like a valid reason. Obviously the disposable design is not even an adequate solution to the risk of cross contamination. I would imagine if it were a real concern you could easily add something like a color changing strip that would indicate whether the needle has been autoclaved since its last use without rendering it useless.
Prions aren't destroyed by autoclave
They can "survive" autoclave cycles that render other pathogens dead/inactive, but there do exist autoclave cycles that seem to pretty reliably inactivate prions.
No but viruses and bacteria are. What's your point and how common is transmitting prions?
My point is disposable is superior