Thread: Doctors should disinfect their stethoscope after every patient

Stethoscopes should be disinfected after each use because they pick up bacteria from a patient’s skin, a study has found.
The researchers from the University of Geneva assessed the level of bacterial contamination on physicians' hands and stethoscopes following a single physical examination.
Their findings, published in the March issue of Mayo Clinic Proceedings, revealed that stethoscopes had as many bacteria on them as the palms of doctors' hands, and only doctors' fingertips had more.

For more info about the news...please click the link

for more info on the news...please go on OnMedica, leading portal for healthcare professionals in the UK

Because dirty stethoscope can pickup bacteria directly from a patient's body which may cause infection so to control that & for patient safety the stethoscope should be disinfected after every patient contact.

A paper has been published in latest issue of journal of DY Patil Medical College said ‘Stethoscope is the symbol of health professionals. However, the diaphragm and bells of the stethoscopes have been shown to harbor pathogenic and nonpathogenic microorganisms. The study was conducted to determine the degree of contamination of stethoscopes used by clinicians and nurses besides identifying various microbes from such contaminated stethoscopes and to assess their role as potential pathogens.’
Each stethoscope averaged about 30 number of colonies including presence of 52 pathogenic (disease-causing) microorganisms including Staphylococcus aureus, Acinetobacter species, Citrobacter species, Pseudomonas stutzeri, Bacillus species, and Aspergillus fumigatus.

A paper has been published in latest issue of journal of DY Patil Medical College said ‘Stethoscope is the symbol of health professionals. However, the diaphragm and bells of the stethoscopes have been shown to harbor pathogenic and nonpathogenic microorganisms. The study was conducted to determine the degree of contamination of stethoscopes used by clinicians and nurses besides identifying various microbes from such contaminated stethoscopes and to assess their role as potential pathogens.’
Each stethoscope averaged about 30 number of colonies including presence of 52 pathogenic (disease-causing) microorganisms including Staphylococcus aureus, Acinetobacter species, Citrobacter species, Pseudomonas stutzeri, Bacillus species, and Aspergillus fumigatus.