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Published on: February 23, 2014
Stethoscopes as potential intrahospital carriers of pathogenic microorganisms
Alejandro Campos-Murguía1, Ximena León-Lara1, Juan M Muñoz1
1Department of Medicine and Nutrition, University of Guanajuato, León, Guanajuato, Mexico.
Abstract:
Stethoscopes can take part in the transmission of health care-associated infections. We cultured 112 stethoscopes by direct imprint on blood agar to estimate the prevalence of potentially pathogenic microorganisms. Forty-eight (47%) produced 50 potentially pathogenic microorganisms; from these, 43 (86%) were Staphylococcus aureus, of which 18 (42%) were methicillin-resistant S. aureus. We concluded that stethoscopes should be considered as potential fomites and must be disinfected routinely before and after each patient contact.
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