title: Transducer hygiene: comparison of procedures for decontamination of ultrasound transducers and their use in clinical practice.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To determine whether current hygiene practices are appropriate during sonographic examinations.
  
  
  METHODS
  Five major hospitals in Sweden were investigated with a survey. At each hospital, the departments corresponding to the main types of sonographic examination were chosen. Personnel who were responsible for or acquainted with the local hygiene procedures completed a standardardized questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The surveys were completed by 25 departments, where the total number of sonographic examinations was approximately 20,000 per month. For transvaginal and transrectal sonographic examinations, the most common method for decontamination of the transducer was barrier protection during the procedure followed by cleansing with alcohol. Latex was the predominant cover material, but one department used polyethylene gloves, and another department used nitrile gloves. Both of these involved transvaginal ultrasonography. In transcutaneous examinations, all hospitals were using alcohol and paper or cloth for decontamination at a minimum. Transesophageal examinations were carried out without barrier protection, and decontamination was performed with an alkylating substance.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The hygiene practices appear to be appropriate at most hospitals, but there is a prevalence of transducer cover materials of unacceptable permeability, as well as use of gloves on transducers despite insufficient evidence of safety.
authors.affiliation: Uppsala University Hospital, Uppsala University, SE-751 85 Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: Mikael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Häggström
authors.forename: Jack
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Spira
authors.forename: Greta
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Edelstam
mesh_terms: D003666:Decontamination / Q000379:methods*; D004866:Equipment Contamination / Q000517:prevention & control*; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006761:Hospitals / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013548:Sweden; D014159:Transducers; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000295:instrumentation*
keywords: decontamination; transabdominal; transesophageal; transrectal; transvaginal; ultrasound