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Most practitioners are generally aware that stethoscopes can be contaminated with bacteria, but what is the magnitude of this problem? To address this simple question, investigators at an academic medical center performed bacterial 16S rRNA gene deep-sequencing, analysis, and quantification on samples from stethoscopes from intensive care unit (ICU) practitioners and single-use stethoscopes in ICU patient rooms, both before and after stethoscope cleaning.
Both practitioner and ICU room stethoscopes had a significantly higher quantity and diversity of bacterial 16S rRNA than new, unused disposable stethoscopes. All practitioner stethoscopes had Staphylococcus 16S rRNA, and more than half carried S. aureus. Most of the stethoscopes also carrie…