• Matthew W Lawrence, James Blanks, Ruben Ayala, Douglas Talk, Diana Macian, Jessie Glasser, and Joel M Schofer.
• LCDR, MC, USN, Emergency Department, Naval Medical Center, 2927 Bruce Station, Chesapeake, VA 23321 USA. mattlawrence99@gmail.com.
• J Ultrasound Med. 2014 Mar 1;33(3):457-62.

ObjectivesThe purpose of this study was to determine the hospital-wide incidence of bacterial contamination of point-of-care (bedside) ultrasound probes and coupling gel at a single academic medical center to predict the risk of nosocomial spread of infection.MethodsBacterial cultures were performed on all point-of-care ultrasound probe surfaces and associated gel bottles in our institution (82 total probes in 9 separate departments). This process was repeated every 2 weeks for a total of 8 weeks; therefore, each probe was cultured 4 times during the study period.ResultsOf the 320 probe cultures, 18 (5.6%), resulted in positive growth, all of which identified nonpathogenic organisms common to human skin flora and the environment. No methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus or other notable pathogens were identified. No gel cultures resulted in bacterial growth.ConclusionsBacterial contamination of point-of-care ultrasound probes and coupling gel is low at this single academic medical center and involves nonpathogenic organisms only.

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