Conference 2021 Poster Presentation
Project title
Importance of decontamination of stethoscope and assessment of its disinfecting practices
Authors and Affiliations
Muhammad Junaid Tahir1,2, Musharaf Zaman1,2, Saad Babar1,2, Fareeha Imran1,2,3, Aasma Noveen Ajmal1,2,3, Muna Malik1,2,3,4, Jalees Khalid Khan1,2,3, IrfanUllah5
1. Ameer-ud-Din Medical College, affiliated with University of Health Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan
2. Lahore General Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan
3. Postgraduate Medical Institute, Lahore, Pakistan
4. Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases Society of Pakistan
5. Kabir Medical College, Gandhara University, Peshawar, Pakistan
Abstract
Background
The objective is to determine bacterial contamination of stethoscopes used by doctors before and after disinfecting with isopropyl alcohol and analyze their practices of disinfecting stethoscopes.
Methods
This was a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted in the Department of Pathology, Lahore General Hospital. Samples from stethoscopes were taken before and after disinfecting with 70% isopropyl alcohol swab with the help of a sterile swab. Swabs were labeled with date and time. All swabs were inoculated on Blood and MacConkey agar plates and incubated for 24 hours aerobically at 370 C. Plates were examined for growth. The organisms were identified by Gram staining, oxidase test, catalase test, and biochemical tests according to standard microbiological procedures.
Results
78 Stethoscopes were sampled in the study. Out of 78 doctors, 36 (46%) were house officers, 33 (42%) were medical officers and 9 (12%) were consultants. Before decontamination with isopropyl alcohol, 27 diaphragms had “growth” while 51 diaphragms had “no growth” out of total 78 diaphragms. After decontamination with isopropyl alcohol, 5 had “growth” while 73 had “no growth”. The most common microorganism isolated from stethoscopes’ diaphragms was methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis (MRSE) i.e. 14 out of 78.Acinetobacter species were isolated from 5.1% of the samples and 3.8% of the stethoscopes showed growth of MRSA.
Conclusions
Stethoscopes used by healthcare workers (HCWs) are potential vectors for the transmission of nosocomial infections. Their transmission can be curtailed if good hygiene practices and disinfection of stethoscopes by isopropyl alcohol is carried out. Cleaning stethoscopes with Isopropyl alcohol decreases the contamination but is not successful in the complete elimination of pathogens.
