The stethoscope as a vector of infectious diseases in the paediatric division.
OBJECTIVE
Nosocomial infections are of great concern in hospital settings, and even more so in the paediatric ward. Health professionals and their medical equipment have long been known to act as vectors of infectious diseases. This study aimed at evaluating the presence of bacterial pathogens on the stethoscopes of medical personnel in the paediatric division.


METHODS
Forty-three stethoscopes belonging to senior physicians, residents, interns and medical students at the paediatric ward were sampled. Bacterial cultures and antibiotic sensitivity testing were carried out.


RESULTS
All but six bacterial cultures were positive (85.7%). Staphylococcal species were the most common contaminants (47.5%). One case of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus was encountered. Gram-negative organisms were isolated in nine different samples (21%) including one case of Acinetobacter baumannii in the neonatal intensive care unit.


CONCLUSIONS
Most stethoscopes harbour potential pathogens. The isolation of Gram-negative organisms pose a real risk of spreading potentially serious infections, especially in the setting of intensive care departments. Apparently, the current recommendations of regular disinfection of stethoscopes are not carried out by health personnel that participated in the study.
Division of Paediatrics, Assaf Harofeh Medical Center, Zerifin, Israel. ilanyoungster@yahoo.com
I
I
Youngster
M
M
Berkovitch
E
E
Heyman
Z
Z
Lazarovitch
M
M
Goldman
D002648:Child; D003141:Communicable Diseases / Q000382:microbiology / Q000635:transmission*; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000382:microbiology / Q000635:transmission*; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D004866:Equipment Contamination; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006094:Gram-Positive Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006748:Hospital Departments; D006801:Humans; D015278:Intensive Care Units, Pediatric; D007557:Israel; D010372:Pediatrics; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D019023:Stethoscopes / Q000382:microbiology*