CONTAMINATED STETHOSCOPES REVISITED

Background: Because of their universal use by medical professionals, s tethoscopes can be a source of nosocomial infections. Objective: To de termine the frequency of contamination of stethoscopes with bacteria a nd fungi. Methods: Cultures were obtained from 200 stethoscopes from f our area hospitals and outpatient clinics in Houston, Tex. The frequen cy of stethoscope contamination in different groups of hospital person nel and medical settings was determined. We also measured the frequenc y of antimicrobial resistance of the staphylococcal strains that were isolated. Results: One hundred fifty-nine (80%) of the 200 stethoscope s surveyed were contaminated with microorganisms. The majority of orga nisms that were isolated were gram-positive bacteria, primarily Staphy lococcus species. Fifty-eight percent of the Staphylococcus species th at were isolated, including four (17%) of 24 Staphylococcus aureus iso lates, were resistant to methicillin. Physicians' stethoscopes were co ntaminated more often than those of other medical personnel groups (P= .02). Stethoscopes used only in designated areas were contaminated les s frequently than stethoscopes belonging to individual medical personn el (P=.01). Although stethoscopes were contaminated in ail areas, stet hoscopes from the pediatric medical setting were contaminated less fre quently than those from other hospital areas (P=.009). Conclusions: St ethoscope use may be important in the spread of infectious agents, inc luding antimicrobial-resistant strains, and strategies to reduce the c ontamination of stethoscopes should be developed, We recommend disinfe ction of stethoscopes or regular use of disposable stethoscope covers.