The stethoscope as a vector of infectious diseases in the paediatric division

Area of Science:

• Medical Microbiology
• Hospital Epidemiology
• Infection Control

Background:

• Nosocomial infections are a significant concern in hospitals, particularly in paediatric wards.
• Healthcare professionals and their equipment can act as vectors for infectious diseases.
• Stethoscopes are frequently used medical devices with potential for bacterial contamination.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the prevalence of bacterial pathogens on stethoscopes used by medical personnel in a paediatric division.
• To identify specific bacterial species and their antibiotic resistance patterns found on these stethoscopes.

Main Methods:

• Sampling of 43 stethoscopes from physicians, residents, interns, and medical students in a paediatric ward.
• Performance of bacterial cultures and antibiotic sensitivity testing on collected samples.

Main Results:

• A high rate of bacterial contamination was found, with 85.7% of stethoscopes yielding positive cultures.
• Staphylococcal species were the most frequent contaminants (47.5%), including one case of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).
• Gram-negative organisms were isolated from 21% of samples, including Acinetobacter baumannii in the neonatal intensive care unit.

Conclusions:

• The majority of stethoscopes in the paediatric ward harbour potentially pathogenic bacteria.
• The presence of Gram-negative bacteria, such as Acinetobacter baumannii, presents a substantial risk for spreading severe infections, especially in intensive care settings.
• Findings suggest that current recommendations for regular stethoscope disinfection are not adequately implemented by healthcare personnel.