Only One Listen Can Result in Bacterial Contamination on a Stethoscope

To lower risk for nosocomial transmitted infections, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends cleaning stethoscopes after each patient encounter, but few physicians perform this basic task. Does it matter? Researchers surveyed 30 hospital clinicians (non–intensive care hospitalists and residents) at two U.S. teaching hospitals about their stethoscope cleaning practices. The investigators then measured bacterial contamination of each clinician's stethoscope diaphragm surface (1) directly out of the clinician's lab coat, (2) after cleaning with ward-available alcohol-based hand sanitizer, and (3) after use in examining one patient.

Only 20% of clinicians reported cleaning stethoscopes regularly. Bacterial contamination wa…