title: Hospital-wide survey of bacterial contamination of point-of-care ultrasound probes and coupling gel.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to determine the hospital-wide incidence of bacterial contamination of point-of-care (bedside) ultrasound probes and coupling gel at a single academic medical center to predict the risk of nosocomial spread of infection.
  
  
  METHODS
  Bacterial cultures were performed on all point-of-care ultrasound probe surfaces and associated gel bottles in our institution (82 total probes in 9 separate departments). This process was repeated every 2 weeks for a total of 8 weeks; therefore, each probe was cultured 4 times during the study period.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 320 probe cultures, 18 (5.6%), resulted in positive growth, all of which identified nonpathogenic organisms common to human skin flora and the environment. No methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus or other notable pathogens were identified. No gel cultures resulted in bacterial growth.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Bacterial contamination of point-of-care ultrasound probes and coupling gel is low at this single academic medical center and involves nonpathogenic organisms only.
authors.affiliation: LCDR, MC, USN, Emergency Department, Naval Medical Center, 2927 Bruce Station, Chesapeake, VA 23321 USA. mattlawrence99@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Matthew W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Lawrence
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Blanks
authors.forename: Ruben
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ayala
authors.forename: Douglas
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Talk
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Macian
authors.forename: Jessie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Glasser
authors.forename: Joel M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Schofer
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004340:Drug Contamination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004866:Equipment Contamination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004869:Equipment Safety / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005782:Gels; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006761:Hospitals / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019095:Point-of-Care Systems / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014159:Transducers / Q000382:microbiology*; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000295:instrumentation*; D014768:Virginia
chemical_list: D005782:Gels
keywords: bacterial; contamination; gel; methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus; point-of-care ultrasound; ultrasound