Highlights
- •Stethoscopes can be contaminated with pathogens when hygiene is not performed.
- •Stethoscopes might be contributing to the problem of health care–acquired infection.
- •Rates of stethoscope hygiene are low among providers.
- •Stethoscope hygiene and contamination are insufficiently addressed in policies and guidelines.
Background
Stethoscopes harbor pathogens that can be transferred to patients when proper sanitary
measures are not taken. Our aim was to assess medical provider stethoscope cleaning
and hand hygiene in an emergency department setting.
Methods
The frequency and methods of stethoscope cleaning during and after provider-patient
encounters were observed anonymously in an emergency department of the VA San Diego
Healthcare System.
Results
Among the total of 426 encounters, 115 (26.9%) involved the use of a personal stethoscope.
In 15 of these 115 encounters (13.0%), the provider placed a glove over the stethoscope
before patient contact. In 13 of these 115 encounters (11.3%), the provider cleaned
the stethoscope with an alcohol swab after patient interaction. Stethoscope hygiene
with water and a hand towel before patient interaction was observed in 5 of these
115 encounters (4.3%). Hand sanitizer use or handwashing was observed in 213 of the
426 encounters (50.0%) before patient interaction. Gloves were used before patient
interaction in 206 of these 426 encounters (48.4%). Hand sanitizer or handwashing
was used in 332 of the 426 encounters (77.9%) after patient interaction.
Conclusions
Rates of stethoscope and hand hygiene performance were lower than expected. Further
investigation of stethoscope contamination and the associated risk of nosocomial infection
are needed. Perhaps clearer guidelines on proper stethoscope cleaning would reduce
this risk.
Key Words
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: November 08, 2018
Accepted:
August 31,
2018
Received in revised form:
August 30,
2018
Received:
July 25,
2018
Footnotes
Conflicts of interest: None to report.
Identification
Copyright
© 2018 Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
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- Regarding observation of stethoscope sanitation practices in an emergency department settingAmerican Journal of Infection ControlVol. 47Issue 7
