Stethoscopes and Nosocomial Infection

Overview

Journal Indian J Pediatr

Specialty Pediatrics

Date 2000 Jun 6

PMID 10838722

Citations 7

Authors

S Sengupta

A Sirkar

P G Shivananda

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Stethoscopes are an essential tool of the medical profession and can become a source of nosocomial infection. A study conducted in the Department of Pediatrics, Kasturba Medical College and Hospital showed a high carriage of methicillin resistant staphylococcus (69.76%) and multi-drug resistant Gram negative bacilli (20.93%) on regularly used stethoscopes. The antibiogram of the bacterial isolates strongly suggested these to be nosocomial strains. A verbal survey revealed that regular cleaning is not common among doctors. A policy regarding cleaning of stethoscopes with an effective disinfectant may be helpful in reducing hospital-associated infections.

Citing Articles

Bacterial Assessment of Stethoscopes Used by Healthcare Workers at a Tertiary Care Government Hospital in Bharatpur, Nepal.

Adhikari S, Adhikaree N, Paudel K, Nepal R, Poudel B, Giri S Diseases. 2023; 11(2).

PMID: 37092437 PMC: 10123714. DOI: 10.3390/diseases11020055.

Natural Rubber (NR) Latex Films with Antimicrobial Properties for Stethoscope Diaphragm Covers.

Sarih N, Gwee K, Maher S, Rashid A Materials (Basel). 2022; 15(10).

PMID: 35629460 PMC: 9146985. DOI: 10.3390/ma15103433.

Methods of Disinfecting Stethoscopes: Systematic Review.

Napolitani M, Bezzini D, Moirano F, Bedogni C, Messina G Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020; 17(6).

PMID: 32182989 PMC: 7143198. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17061856.

Comparison of methods for evaluating bacterial contamination of ultrasound probes.

Koibuchi H, Hayashi S, Kotani K, Fujii Y, Konno K, Hirai Y J Med Ultrason (2001). 2016; 36(4):187.

PMID: 27277438 DOI: 10.1007/s10396-009-0230-6.

Bacterial contamination, bacterial profile and antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of isolates from stethoscopes at Jimma University Specialized Hospital.

Shiferaw T, Beyene G, Kassa T, Sewunet T Ann Clin Microbiol Antimicrob. 2013; 12:39.

PMID: 24330702 PMC: 3880102. DOI: 10.1186/1476-0711-12-39.

References

Smith M, Mathewson J, Ulert I, Scerpella E, Ericsson C . Contaminated stethoscopes revisited. Arch Intern Med. 1996; 156(1):82-4. View

Marinella M, Pierson C, Chenoweth C . The stethoscope. A potential source of nosocomial infection?. Arch Intern Med. 1997; 157(7):786-90. DOI: 10.1001/archinte.157.7.786. View

BAUER A, KIRBY W, SHERRIS J, Turck M . Antibiotic susceptibility testing by a standardized single disk method. Am J Clin Pathol. 1966; 45(4):493-6. View

Wenzel R, Thompson R, Landry S, Russell B, Miller P, Ponce de Leon S . Hospital-acquired infections in intensive care unit patients: an overview with emphasis on epidemics. Infect Control. 1983; 4(5):371-5. DOI: 10.1017/s0195941700059774. View

Hughes J . Study on the efficacy of nosocomial infection control (SENIC Project): results and implications for the future. Chemotherapy. 1988; 34(6):553-61. DOI: 10.1159/000238624. View