To assess the stethoscope cleaning practices, microbial load and efficacy of cleaning stethoscopes with alcohol-based disinfectant in a tertiary care hospital

Bansal, Agam; Bhan, Bhavna Dhingra; Gupta, Kanishk; Purwar, Shashank

doi:10.1177/1757177418802353

Cited by 9 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…Similarly, biomarker analysis revealed several CoNS to be significantly enriched in baseline samples when compared to post-intervention timepoints (Supplementary Figure S2). While CoNS have traditionally been considered nonpathogenic commensal skin microorganisms, CoNS have recently emerged as common opportunistic pathogens causing HAIs and have been isolated from common medical equipment like stethoscopes in Emergency Departments (49)(50)(51). In addition to being among one of the most frequently recovered bacteria in routine clinical care settings (52), CoNS are also reported to be a common blood culture-assay contaminant (53).…”

Section: Reduced Abundance Of Hai-associated Taxa Post-interventionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessment of a novel continuous cleaning device using metatranscriptomics in diverse hospital environments

Wright

Ly²,

Cromwell³

et al. 2023

Front. Med. Technol.

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IntroductionDespite routine implementation of cleaning and disinfection practices in clinical healthcare settings, high-touch environmental surfaces and contaminated equipment often serve as reservoirs for the transmission of pathogens associated with healthcare-associated infections (HAIs).MethodsThe current study involved the analysis of high-touch surface swabs using a metatranscriptomic sequencing workflow (CSI-Dx™) to assess the efficacy of cleanSURFACES® technology in decreasing microbial burden by limiting re-contamination. This is a non-human single center study conducted in the Emergency Department (ED) and on an inpatient Oncology Ward of Walter Reed National Military Medical Center that have followed hygienic practices during the COVID-19 pandemic environment.ResultsAlthough there was no difference in observed microbial richness (two-tailed Wilcoxon test with Holm correction, P > 0.05), beta diversity findings identified shifts in microbial community structure between surfaces from baseline and post-intervention timepoints (Day 1, Day 7, Day 14, and Day 28). Biomarker and regression analyses identified significant reductions in annotated transcripts for various clinically relevant microorganisms' post-intervention, coagulase-negative staphylococci and Malassezia restricta, at ED and Oncology ward, respectively. Additionally, post-intervention samples predominantly consisted of Proteobacteria and to a lesser extent skin commensals and endogenous environmental microorganisms in both departments.DiscussionFindings support the value of cleanSURFACES®, when coupled with routine disinfection practices, to effectively impact on the composition of active microbial communities found on high-touch surfaces in two different patient care areas of the hospital (one outpatient and one inpatient) with unique demands and patient-centered practices.

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Section: Reduced Abundance Of Hai-associated Taxa Post-interventionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessment of a novel continuous cleaning device using metatranscriptomics in diverse hospital environments

Wright

Ly²,

Cromwell³

et al. 2023

Front. Med. Technol.

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“…The guidelines that exist have poor adherence rates among providers [ 8 , 9 ], including students and trainees [ 10 ]. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends cleaning stethoscopes after seeing each patient [ 11 ], yet most physicians clean their stethoscopes infrequently (if at all), with a recent physician survey revealing more than half had never cleaned their stethoscopes [ 12 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hospital Physicians’ Stethoscopes: Bacterial Contamination After a Simple Cleaning Protocol

Dressler¹,

Cruser²,

Dressler³

2023

Cureus

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Background: Stethoscope surfaces become contaminated with bacteria due to inconsistent cleaning practices, as cleaning frequency and practical cleansing approaches are not well-established.Methods: We investigated bacterial contamination of stethoscopes at baseline, after simple cleaning, and after examining one patient. We surveyed 30 hospital providers on stethoscope cleaning practices and then measured bacterial contamination of stethoscope diaphragm surfaces before cleaning, after cleaning with alcohol-based hand sanitizer, and after use in examining one patient.Results: Only 20% of providers reported cleaning stethoscopes regularly. Before cleaning, 50% of stethoscopes were contaminated with bacteria, compared with 0% after cleaning (p<0.001) and 36.7% after examining one patient (p=0.002). Among providers who reported not cleaning stethoscopes regularly, 58% had bacterial-contaminated stethoscopes compared with 17% who did report cleaning regularly (p=0.068).Conclusions: Hospital providers' stethoscopes had a high probability of bacterial contamination at baseline and after examining one patient. We recommend decontamination with alcohol-based hand sanitizer immediately before each patient examination.

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“…Therefore, the stethoscope aids in establishing good communication and allows efficient medical assessment between the medical profession and the patient [ 3 ]. However, the stethoscope diaphragm has been recognized as a potential vector for bacterial transmission because it is used in direct contact with different kinds of patients daily during diagnosis [ 4 , 5 , 6 ]. A contaminated stethoscope diaphragm can potentially transmit pathogenic organisms or microbes from one patient to another after a minimum of 3 s of contact, causing cross-contamination.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The majority of healthcare providers who responded, 33 (53.22%), had never cleaned their stethoscopes. Most notably, none of them would clean their stethoscopes after examining each patient [ 5 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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

Azura

2022

Materials

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Systematic disinfection of the stethoscope diaphragm is required to ensure that it does not act as a vector for cross-transmission of health-related diseases. Thus, an antimicrobial latex film could be used as a cover to inhibit pathogenic bacteria from growing on its surface. The aim of this work is to determine the antimicrobial activity and mechanical properties of antimicrobial natural rubber (NR) latex films with different types of antimicrobial agents (mangosteen peel powder (MPP), zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NP), and povidone-iodine (PVP-I)). The antimicrobial loading was varied from 0.5, to 1.0, and 2.0 phr to monitor the effective inhibition of Gram-negative bacteria and fungi growth. For MPP and PVP-I antimicrobial agents, a loading of 2.0 phr showed good antimicrobial efficacy with the largest zone of inhibition. Simultaneously, ZnO NP demonstrated excellent antimicrobial activity at low concentrations. The addition of antimicrobial agents shows a comparable effect on the mechanical properties of NR latex films. In comparison to control NR latex film (29.41 MPa, 48.49 N/mm), antimicrobial-filled films have significantly greater tensile and tear strengths (MPP (33.84 MPa, 65.21 N/mm), ZnO NP (31.79 MPa, 52.77 N/mm), and PVP-I (33.25 MPa, 50.75 N/mm). In conclusion, the addition of antimicrobial agents, particularly ZnO NP, can be a better choice for NR latex films because they will serve as both an activator and an antimicrobial. In a clinical context, with regard to frequently used medical equipment such as a stethoscope, such an approach offers significant promise to aid infection control.

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To assess the stethoscope cleaning practices, microbial load and efficacy of cleaning stethoscopes with alcohol-based disinfectant in a tertiary care hospital

Cited by 9 publications

References 14 publications

Assessment of a novel continuous cleaning device using metatranscriptomics in diverse hospital environments

Assessment of a novel continuous cleaning device using metatranscriptomics in diverse hospital environments

Hospital Physicians’ Stethoscopes: Bacterial Contamination After a Simple Cleaning Protocol

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

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