Abstract

Stethoscope diaphragms are frequently colonized by bacteria. This cross-sectional study described the frequency and factors associated with reporting ever cleaning stethoscopes among 408 medical students and doctors at a medical college and 2 teaching hospitals in Rawalpindi, Pakistan. A minority of the respondents (37.7%) reported having ever cleaned their stethoscope. Following normal clinical use, wiping with a dry cloth was the most frequently reported method of cleaning (53.2%). After contamination of the diaphragm with blood or secretions, cleaning with an alcoholic swab was the most common method (64.3%). In univariate and multivariate analyses, history of receiving information on stethoscope cleaning, utilization of personal stethoscope at last use and affiliation with internal medicine department were factors strongly associated with ever cleaning of stethoscope. Future research for improving stethoscope cleaning practices should explore educational interventions aimed at health care professionals.

Links

Aggregator Full Text

Authors

Hyder O

Institution

Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Rawalpindi Medical College, Rawalpindi, Pakistan. hyder@post.harvard.edu

Source

Eastern Mediterranean health journal = La revue de santé de la Méditerranée orientale = al-Majallah al-ṣiḥḥīyah li-sharq al-mutawassiṭ 18:7 2012 Jul pg 707-11

MeSH

Cross-Sectional Studies
Disinfection
Equipment Contamination
Female
Humans
Infection Control
Male
Pakistan
Physicians
Questionnaires
Stethoscopes
Students, Medical

Pub Type(s)

Journal Article

Language

eng

PubMed ID

22891517