VAGINAL ULTRASOUND PROBE COVER LEAKAGE - IMPLICATIONS FOR PATIENT-CARE

Objective: To assess the risk of probe contamination following transva ginal ultrasonography. Design: Prospective cohort study. Setting: Univ ersity Infertility Center. Patient(s): Women undergoing transvaginal u ltrasonography. Intervention(s): One physician obtained 840 consecutiv e transvaginal ultrasonograms over nine months. Latex condoms were use d to cover the probe. Following examination, the condoms were removed and the probe was wiped with a germicidal disposable cloth and left to air dry for 5 minutes. Condoms were filled with water and examined fo r leaks. Main Outcome Measure(s): Number of perforations and distance from condom tip. Result(s): Seventeen (2%) of 840 condoms leaked. The mean distance from the tip to the point of leakage was 10.6 cm +/- 2.8 (mean +/- SD; range, 7-14). Sixty-five percent of the leaks were less than or equal to 10 cm from the tip. In several instances, two leakin g condoms were found within a few examinations of each other. No visua l contamination of the probe was noted. Conclusion(s): Although only 2 % of condoms leaked, 65% were at distances that could have led to prob e soiling intravaginally. While no body fluids were grossly visible, m icroscopic contamination was still possible. Since perforations were n oted in close, and even consecutive scans, this study underscores the need for routine probe disinfection between examinations. (C) 1998 by American Society for Reproductive Medicine.