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Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol · Sep 1999
Comparative StudyBacterial contamination of hospital physicians' stethoscopes.
- L Bernard, A Kereveur, D Durand, J Gonot, F Goldstein, J L Mainardi, J Acar, and J Carlet.
- Hôpital Saint Joseph, Paris, France.
- Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 1999 Sep 1; 20 (9): 626-8.
AbstractBecause stethoscopes might be potential vectors of nosocomial infections, this study, conducted in a 450-bed general hospital, was devised to evaluate the bacterial contamination of stethoscopes; bacterial survival on stethoscope membranes; the kinetics of the bacterial load on stethoscope membranes during clinical use; and the efficacy of 70% alcohol or liquid soap for membrane disinfection. Among the 355 stethoscopes tested, 234 carried > or =2 different bacterial species; 31 carried potentially pathogenic bacteria. Although some bacteria deposited onto membranes could survive 6 to 18 hours, none survived after disinfection.
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