title: Ultrasound scan as a potential source of nosocomial and crossinfection: a literature review.
abstract: The authors review the main concepts regarding the importance of cleaning/disinfection of ultrasonography probes, aiming a better comprehension by practitioners and thus enabling strategies to establish a safe practice without compromising the quality of the examination and the operator productivity. In the context of biosafety, it is imperative to assume that contact with blood or body fluids represents a potential source of infection. Thus, in order to implement cleaning/disinfection practice, it is necessary to understand the principles of infection control, to consider the cost/benefit ratio of the measures to be implemented, and most importantly, to comprehend that such measures will not only benefit the health professional and the patient, but the society as a whole.
authors.affiliation: PhD, Coordinator of the Fetal Medicine Unit, Hospital Universitário Evangélico de Curitiba, Curitiba, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: André Hadyme
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Miyague
authors.affiliation: PhD, MD, Sonographist, Faculdade de Tecnologia em Saúde (Fatesa), Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Fernando Marum
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Mauad
authors.affiliation: PhD, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto da Universidade de São Paulo (FMRP-USP), Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Wellington de Paula
authors.initials: Wde P
authors.lastname: Martins
authors.affiliation: Masters, MDs, Sonographists, Faculdade de Tecnologia em Saúde (Fatesa), Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Augusto César Garcia
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Benedetti
authors.affiliation: Masters, MDs, Sonographists, Faculdade de Tecnologia em Saúde (Fatesa), Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ana Elizabeth Gomes de Melo Tavares
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Ferreira
authors.affiliation: MD, Sonographist, Director, Faculdade de Tecnologia em Saúde (Fatesa), Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mauad-Filho
keywords: Cleaning; Disinfection; Transvaginal transducer; Ultrasonography