'Stethoscopes
that are dirty can raise risk of infection'
Researchers from Yale University in the US say they found health care
providers rarely perform stethoscope hygiene between patient encounters,
despite its importance for infection prevention. They conducted a quality
improvement pilot project in which they observed stethoscope hygiene (alcohol
swabs, alcohol gel, or disinfectant wipes) at the start of a four-week rotation
for medical students and physicians at an academic teaching hospital. None of those
observed was found to be performing stethoscope hygiene.
Potential pathogens cultured from stethoscopes include
Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Clostridium difficile, and
vancomycin-resistant enterococci.
A previous study found that
stethoscopes were capable of transmitting potentially resistant bacteria.
26.07.2017
Success is going from failure to failure without losing your enthusiasm
Winston Churchill
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