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The aim of this study was to determine contamination rates of health professional's stethoscopes and their attitudes toward routine disinfection.
Stethoscopes harbour pathogenic microorganisms such as MRSA, predominantly on the bell, diaphragm and earpieces. National guidelines consider stethoscopes as low risk for infection; however contemporary evidence shows high levels of contamination.
Numerous studies reveal high levels of contamination due to disinfection failures. Standard measures for disinfection are adequate but health professionals fail to adhere to guidelines due to time constraints, absence of disinfecting material and insufficient visual reminders, but do disinfect when caring for existing MRSA cases. Best practice guidelines advise that stethoscopes should be disinfected between patient assessments. Ethanolbased cleaners and isopropyl alcohol have been identified as effective disinfectant aids, removing up to 94% of bacterial growth. Health professionals using ethanol-based cleaners during hand cleaning continued to clean the stethoscope in one action which is argued to be a more feasible approach compared to isopropyl alcohol swabs.
Evidence confirms stethoscopes to be moderate-to-high risk contaminates, acting as vectors for infection transmission. However, stethoscope hygiene is infrequently practised, through failure to follow standard procedures. Improving health care professional attitudes towards stethoscope hygiene is imperative in today's practice. Prevention of contamination is undeniably feasible in conjunction with ethanol-based cleaners, positive reinforcement and improved infection control policies.
Background
Stethoscopes attract a high to moderate threat of infection (Burrie 2011) particularly in the elderly susceptible patient. The increasing proliferation of multi resistant 'superbugs' requires diligent hygiene of both hands and instruments between patients in order to reduce hospital acquired infections (Arias & Murray 2009). In clinical settings health professionals share stethoscopes omitting to clean the earpieces or diaphragm between users and between patients (Bandi & Conway 2012) enhancing the risk of cross infection.
Fomites can transfer bacteria to human skin through a brief touch of a surface with the risk that unconfirmed asymptomatic hosts and uncleansed stethoscopes could provide the transport to the next susceptible host. Antibiotic resistance is increasing and hospital acquired strains of Klebsiella, Escherichia coli and Enterobacter are of great concern (Arias and Murray 2009). Further, Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) can live on inanimate objects for up to seven months, Escherichia coli for 16 months, and Clostridium difficile for five months (Russell, Secrest et...