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The stethoscope in the Emergency Department: a vector of infection?

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Núñez S ,Moreno A , Green K, Villar J.

Department of Emergency, Hospital de la Candelaria, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain.

Epidemiol Infect. 2000 Apr; 124(2):233-7.

The purposes of this study were to determine whether micro organisms can be isolated from the membranes of stethoscopes used by clinicians and nurses, and to analyse whether or not the degree of bacterial colonisation could be reduced with different cleaning methods.

We designed a transversal before-after study in which 122 stethoscopes were examined. Coagulase negative staphylococci (which are also potentially pathogenic micro organisms) were isolated together with 13 other potentially pathogenic micro organisms, including S. aureus, Acinetobacter sp. and Enterobacter agglomerans. The most effective antiseptic was propyl alcohol.

Analysis of the cleaning habits of the Emergency Department (ED) staff showed that 45% cleaned the stethoscope annually or never. The isolation of potentially pathogenic micro organisms suggests that the stethoscope must be considered as a potential vector of infection not only in the ED but also in other hospital wards and out-patient clinics.