title: A safe and practical decontamination method to reduce the risk of bacterial colonization of ultrasound transducers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Hospital-acquired infections is a major concern affecting patient management, in which medical instruments and devices play an important role. The purpose of this study was to determine the degree of bacterial contamination of the sonographic probe and describe an effective, safe, and practical decontamination method.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study's sample consisted of 50 patients. Cultures were taken from the probe surface both after each examination and after the probes had been wiped clean with a dry, nonsterile paper towel. Cultures were also taken randomly from the coupling gel.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Initial cultures were positive in 49 cases (98%) for aerobic and in 26 cases (52%) for anaerobic bacteria. Cultures obtained after cleaning the probe were positive in only 21 cases (42%) for aerobic and in 12 cases (24%) for anaerobic bacteria. The most common bacteria isolated in the aerobic cultures were Streptococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis, and in the anaerobic cultures were Peptococcus spp. and Peptostreptococcus spp. All cultures taken from the coupling gel were negative.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Sonographic probes may act as a medium for bacterial contamination and transmission. Cleaning of the probe with a dry, nonsterile paper towel is an easy, effective, low-cost, and device-friendly method that can reduce this risk.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge University Hospitals, Cambridge, UK.
authors.forename: Farshid
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ejtehadi
authors.forename: Fardad
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ejtehadi
authors.forename: Jamshid Cohen
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Teb
authors.forename: Mohammad Mehdi
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Arasteh
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004203:Disinfection / Q000379:methods*; D004866:Equipment Contamination / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D012307:Risk Factors; D014159:Transducers / Q000382:microbiology*; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000295:instrumentation*
keywords: bacteria; hospital-acquired infections; transducers; ultrasonography