title: Bacterial contamination and stethoscope disinfection practices: a cross-sectional survey of healthcare workers in Karachi, Pakistan.
abstract: Stethoscopes routinely used for clinical examination of patients may potentially transfer micro-organisms and cause iatrogenic infections. This study was undertaken to detect the presence of microorganisms on stethoscopes used clinically in hospitals of Karachi, Pakistan and to ascertain the infection control practices of healthcare workers (HCWs). In a cross-sectional study, 118 samples were collected from public and private institutions. Samples were tested for the presence and sensitivity of pathogenic microorganisms. Microorganisms were found on diaphragms of 33/64 (51.6%) and 19/57 (33.3%) stethoscopes in public and private sector hospitals, respectively. Methycillin resistance was identified in all staphylococcally contaminated samples. Only 33 (18%) respondents reported cleaning their stethoscopes regularly. We highlight the need for more and better on-the-job routines for decontaminating stethoscopes among HCWs in Karachi.
authors.affiliation: 1 Graduate, Hamdard College of Medicine & Dentistry, Hamdard University, Karachi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Danish Ahmed
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Rao
authors.affiliation: 1 Graduate, Hamdard College of Medicine & Dentistry, Hamdard University, Karachi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Aiysha
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aman
authors.affiliation: 2 Professor and Head, Department of Community Health Sciences, Hamdard College of Medicine & Dentistry, Hamdard University, Karachi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Syed
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Muhammad Mubeen
authors.affiliation: 1 Graduate, Hamdard College of Medicine & Dentistry, Hamdard University, Karachi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Ahmed
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shah
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004202:Disinfectants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004203:Disinfection / Q000379:methods*; D004866:Equipment Contamination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006282:Health Personnel; D006306:Health Surveys; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010154:Pakistan; D019023:Stethoscopes / Q000382:microbiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D004202:Disinfectants
keywords: Stethoscope; fomite; healthcare worker (HCW); infection; nosocomial infections