28 Feb Stethoscopes Coated with Bacteria

MedicalResearch.com Interview with :
Professor Didier Pittet, MD, MS
Director, Infection Control Program and WHO Collaborating Centre on Patient Safety, University of Geneva Hospitals and Faculty of Medicine, Switzerland

MedicalResearch.com: What are the main findings of the study?

Prof. Pittet:  The density of bacterial contamination of the stethoscope’s membrane is closely correlated with the density of bacterial counts on the doctor’s fingertips.

This is true for both common skin comensals and multi-resistant nosocomial pathogens such as MRSA.

MedicalResearch.com: Were any of the findings unexpected?

Prof. Pittet:  Yes, the amount of bacteria recovered was much higher than expected and as important of bacterial counts on fingertips responsible for cross-transmission.

MedicalResearch.com: What should clinicians and patients take away from your report?

Prof. Pittet:  Stethoscopes should be disinfected after each use.

Citation:

Status of the implementation of the World Health Organization multimodal hand hygiene strategy in United States of America health care facilities

Benedetta Allegranzi, Laurie Conway, Elaine Larson, Didier Pittet

AJIC: American Journal of Infection Control – March 2014 (Vol. 42, Issue 3, Pages 224-230, DOI: 10.1016/j.ajic.2013.11.015)

Last Updated on February 28, 2014 by Marie Benz MD FAAD