Evaluation of dedicated stethoscopes as a potential source of nosocomial pathogens.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether the ear tips of dedicated stethoscopes (DS) that are used on patients prescribed contact precautions for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium, or multiple antibiotic-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii become contaminated with these micro-organisms.


METHODS
Culture of DS ear tips.


METHODS
A 524-bed tertiary care university hospital.


METHODS
DS ear tips were inoculated directly onto bacteriologic media and incubated for 48 to 72 hours. Growth of more than 10 colonies from the 2 ear tips collectively was indicative of contamination.


RESULTS
Ear tips of 78 DS from 69 patients were cultured. Ear tips from 17% (13/78) of the DS were contaminated with potentially pathogenic bacteria: 2 with S aureus (1 MRSA), 1 with E faecalis, 7 with Acinetobacter species, 2 with Pseudomonas species, 1 with Escherichia coli, and 1 with Moraxella. None of the stethoscope ear tips was contaminated with the same pathogen for which the patient was prescribed contact precautions (95% CI, 0-3.8%).


CONCLUSIONS
Although the ear tips of DS from patients who were prescribed contact precautions for MRSA, vancomycin-resistant E faecium, or multiple antibiotic-resistant A baumannii were not contaminated with the indicated nosocomial pathogen, 94% of the evaluable ear tips were contaminated, including with MRSA (1.3%) and Acinetobacter (11%). Regular disinfection of ear tips of DS between users should be considered.
Guinto
Cesar H
CH
Division of Infectious Diseases, New York Medical College/Westchester Medical Center, Valhalla, New York 10595, USA.
Bottone
Edward J
EJ
Raffalli
John T
JT
Montecalvo
Marisa A
MA
Wormser
Gary P
GP
D040981:Acinetobacter baumannii / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004202:Disinfectants; D016984:Enterococcus faecium / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004866:Equipment Contamination; D006801:Humans; D016106:Methicillin Resistance; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification; D019023:Stethoscopes / Q000382:microbiology*; D020713:Vancomycin Resistance
D004202:Disinfectants