Efficacy Of Cleaning Stethoscope With Disinfectants Among Health Care Workers In A Tertiary Care Centre

Abstract

AIMS:

The prevalence of hospital acquired infection is high and remains as a major health problem in both national and global level. This study was done to find out the contamination percentage of stethoscopes and the efficacy of cleaning stethoscopes with disinfectants among health care workers in a tertiary care centre.

METHODOLOGY AND RESULTS:

This was a cross sectional study conducted in the department of Microbiology, Saveetha medical college Hospital and Chennai from health care workers. Stethoscopes of 100 volunteered health care workers were included in the study. Samples were collected from different parts such as diaphragm, bell and ear piece by using sterile swabs soaked in sterile saline. The collected samples were processed by standard microbiological procedures.(CLSI). Among 100 stethoscopes 26(26%) has admitted that they have never cleaned their stethoscope and their contamination rate is 100%. Out of the total 100 stethoscopes, 79 (79%) stethoscopes were colonized with different pathogenic bacteria. Among 79 contaminated stethoscopes 60(60%) diaphragms showed predominant colonization, whereas only 55 (55%) bells and 35(35%) ear pieces were only contaminated among them. Mixed growth was seen in diaphragms (n=1) and bell (n=3). The bacteria that were isolated from diaphragm, bell and earpiece are Staphylococcus aureus, Coagulase negative Staphylococcus aureus, Micrococcus, Diphtheroids, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, K.pneumoniae, Citrobacter freundii. Among these bacteria drug resistance organisms such as MRSA, MRCONS and MDR P.aeruginosa were also isolated.

CONCLUSION:

Stethoscopes used by HCWs may behave as carriers of hospital diseases since they are contaminated with the pathogenic bacteria. Regular cleaning of the stethoscope with 70% ethanol will help to prevent the transmission of microorganisms and the contaminants. HCWs must strictly adhere to the

hospital’s disinfection procedures in order to avoid cross contamination and assure patient safety. So, we need to impart knowledge and motivate the HCWs and should be added as one of the strict policy in hospital infection control manual.