Survey on ultrasound cleaning knowledge (SUCK)

Point of Care Ultrasound (POCUS) is increasing utilised in respiratory medicine as it enables immediate detection of pathologic processes without radiation, and it increases safety for pleural procedures. With increasing use of thoracic ultrasound, its potential as a vector for transmission of pathogens must be considered. Anecdotally, there is a relative dearth of education regarding appropriate cleaning practices in many short POCUS curricula.

Using a previously accepted survey instrument with adjustment to reflect up to date guidelines, we surveyed a range of respiratory medicine practitioners from 01 August 2024 to 30 November 2024 regarding their use of POCUS and their knowledge and practice regarding appropriate cleaning procedures. The survey instrument was distributed electronically to the majority of Australian teaching hospitals and advertised in national society bulletins, and included a combination of yes/no, Likert Scale and free text questions. Data collection was anonymous through the Research Electronic Data Capture (REDCap) Platform.

There were 66 respondents, with the majority being respiratory medicine trainees or specialists (19 and 41 respectively). Most practitioners have been using POCUS for at least 1-2 years, and respondents are generally using it from 2 to 3 times/week to 2-3 times/month. 81 % have participated in a formal education program regarding POCUS. Approximately two thirds (62 %) have never received education regarding how to clean an ultrasound machine. There was a broad range of answers regarding which parts of a machine to clean after a simple POCUS scan, with most identifying an appropriate cleaning product. Concerningly, 21 % and 3 % believe that high concentration alcohol solutions or high temperature sterilisation is appropriate for cleaning ultrasound probes. Lack of knowledge and inability to find the right materials were the most commonly cited reasons for failure to clean a POCUS device after a scan.

Whilst many receive formal training on the use of ultrasound, education and knowledge of appropriate procedures for ultrasound machine cleaning appears to be lacking. There is a need for greater awareness of available machine cleaning guidelines to reduce the risk of ultrasonography as a vector for healthcare-associated pathogen transmission.