title: Disinfection of transvaginal ultrasound probes in a clinical setting: comparative performance of automated and manual reprocessing methods.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Transvaginal and intracavitary ultrasound probes are a possible source of cross-contamination with microorganisms and thus a risk to patients' health. Therefore appropriate methods for reprocessing are needed. This study was designed to compare the standard disinfection method for transvaginal ultrasound probes in Germany with an automated disinfection method in a clinical setting.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a prospective randomized controlled clinical study of two groups. In each group, 120 microbial samples were collected from ultrasound transducers before and after disinfection with either an automated method (Trophon EPR®) or a manual method (Mikrozid Sensitive® wipes). Samples were then analyzed for microbial growth and isolates were identified to species level.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Automated disinfection had a statistically significantly higher success rate of 91.4% (106/116) compared with 78.8% (89/113) for manual disinfection (P = 0.009). The risk of contamination was increased by 2.9-fold when disinfection was performed manually (odds ratio, 2.9 (95% CI, 1.3-6.3)). Before disinfection, bacterial contamination was observed on 98.8% of probes. Microbial analysis revealed 36 different species of bacteria, including skin and environmental bacteria as well as pathogenic bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus, enterobacteriaceae and Pseudomonas spp.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Considering the high number of contaminated probes and bacterial species found, disinfection of the ultrasound probe's body and handle should be performed after each use to decrease the risk of cross-contamination. This study favored automated disinfection owing to its significantly higher efficacy compared with a manual method. Copyright © 2015 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital Muenster, Muenster, Germany.
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Buescher
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital Muenster, Muenster, Germany.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Möllers
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital Muenster, Muenster, Germany.
authors.forename: M K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Falkenberg
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biostatistics and Clinical Research, University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Amler
authors.affiliation: Institute of Hygiene, University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kipp
authors.affiliation: Catalyst Consultants, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Burdach
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital Muenster, Muenster, Germany.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Klockenbusch
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital Muenster, Muenster, Germany.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schmitz
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004203:Disinfection / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D004866:Equipment Contamination / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014159:Transducers / Q000382:microbiology*; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000295:instrumentation
keywords: TVS; automated reprocessing; contamination; disinfection; hygiene; manual reprocessing; transvaginal ultrasound