Bacterial contamination of hospital physicians' stethoscopes.
Because stethoscopes might be potential vectors of nosocomial infections, this study, conducted in a 450-bed general hospital, was devised to evaluate the bacterial contamination of stethoscopes; bacterial survival on stethoscope membranes; the kinetics of the bacterial load on stethoscope membranes during clinical use; and the efficacy of 70% alcohol or liquid soap for membrane disinfection. Among the 355 stethoscopes tested, 234 carried > or =2 different bacterial species; 31 carried potentially pathogenic bacteria. Although some bacteria deposited onto membranes could survive 6 to 18 hours, none survived after disinfection.
Bernard
L
L
Hôpital Saint Joseph, Paris, France.
Kereveur
A
A
Durand
D
D
Gonot
J
J
Goldstein
F
F
Mainardi
J L
JL
Acar
J
J
Carlet
J
J
D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004202:Disinfectants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004866:Equipment Contamination / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004865:Equipment and Supplies, Hospital / Q000382:microbiology*; D000431:Ethanol; D006745:Hospital Bed Capacity, 300 to 499; D006769:Hospitals, General; D006801:Humans; D010297:Paris; D012915:Soaps; D019023:Stethoscopes / Q000382:microbiology*
D004202:Disinfectants; D012915:Soaps; D000431:Ethanol