Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Stethoscopes: a potential vector of infection?

J S Jones1, D Hoerle, R Riekse

  • 1Department of Emergency Medicine, Butterworth Hospital, Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, Grand Rapids, USA.

Annals of Emergency Medicine
|September 1, 1995
PubMed
Summary

Stethoscopes in emergency care are frequently contaminated with staphylococci, posing an infection risk. Regular cleaning with alcohol or nonionic detergent significantly reduces this bacterial contamination.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Aural search & rescue: Techniques for ear foreign body removal in the emergency department.

The American journal of emergency medicine·2023
Same author

Salivation by Chemical Action in the Stomach.

Illinois and Indiana medical and surgical journal·2023
Same author

Acute toxicity associated with cannabis edibles following decriminalization of marijuana in Michigan.

The American journal of emergency medicine·2020
Same author

Accidental Chlorine Gas Exposure in a Pediatric Patient: A Case Report.

Clinical practice and cases in emergency medicine·2020
Same author

"Robo-tripping": Dextromethorphan toxicity and abuse.

The American journal of emergency medicine·2019
Same author

Bug off! Severe toxicity following inhalational exposure to N, N-diethyl-meta-toluamide (DEET).

The American journal of emergency medicine·2019

Area of Science:

  • Infection Control
  • Microbiology
  • Emergency Medicine

Background:

  • Stethoscopes are essential diagnostic tools in emergency settings.
  • Contaminated stethoscopes can act as vectors for pathogen transmission.
  • Staphylococcus carriage on stethoscopes is a concern for healthcare-associated infections.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess stethoscope cleaning practices among emergency care providers.
  • To determine the prevalence of Staphylococcus contamination on stethoscopes.
  • To correlate cleaning habits with the level of Staphylococcus carriage.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective cross-sectional study in a university-affiliated hospital emergency department.
  • Surveyed 150 healthcare providers (physicians, nurses, prehospital personnel) on cleaning habits.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Cultured stethoscopes to identify Staphylococcus and quantify bacterial colony-forming units (CFUs).

    • Main Results:

    • 89% of stethoscopes showed Staphylococcus growth, with 19% yielding Staphylococcus aureus.
    • Only 48% of providers cleaned stethoscopes daily or weekly; 7% never cleaned them.
    • Alcohol swabs and nonionic detergent effectively reduced bacterial counts by 94% and 90%, respectively.

    Conclusions:

    • Stethoscopes in emergency practice are frequently contaminated with staphylococci.
    • Inadequate cleaning practices contribute to stethoscope contamination.
    • Frequent cleaning with alcohol or nonionic detergent significantly mitigates Staphylococcus contamination.