Efficacy of an ethanol-based hand sanitizer for disinfection of stethoscopes

Grandière-Pérez, L.; Bovet, Julien; Beaudron, Aurélie; Saulnier, Patrick; Blanchi, Sophie; Delemotte, M.; Ramanantsoa, Céline

doi:10.1016/j.jhin.2015.05.018

Cited by 8 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 4 publications

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“…Moreover, 70 studies were commentaries or full articles not in line with the aim of the study and we have excluded them after a careful examination of the abstracts and of the full texts. Finally, we detected 17 publications [3,5,6,9,11,13,[17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27]. Among these, we included four letters to the editor (Figure 1).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Also, the use of Ethanol-Based Hand Sanitizer (EBHS) (gel or foam) was effective in disinfection [18][19][20]. In a study conducted by Grandiere-Perez et al [18], before disinfection, 38 out of 40 stethoscopes examined were culture positive with a mean of 29.9 CFU per culture plate. After disinfection, the mean was 1.1 CFU p < 0.001.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…All the chemical disinfectants proved to limit the bacterial presence on stethoscope surfaces [9,11,13,[18][19][20][21][22]. There are various formulations (liquid, gel, foam, or putty) that can be used according to preferences and availability.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Other authors have evaluated the effectiveness of other chemical disinfectants. The EBHS was effective to significantly reduce the number of bacterial colonies on stethoscopes [18]. Clinicians could rub their hands with EBHS and then they could rub the stethoscope diaphragm between the hands in order to disinfect it stethoscopes [19,20].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Methods of Disinfecting Stethoscopes: Systematic Review

Napolitani

Battaglia

Moirano

et al. 2020

IJERPH

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The aim of this systematic review was to investigate the effectiveness of various disinfection methods available for stethoscopes. In March 2019, we performed a search in PubMed and Scopus using the search terms: “reducing stethoscopes contamination” and “disinfection stethoscopes”; the Mesh terms used in PubMed were “Decontamination/methods” or “Disinfection/methods” and “Stethoscopes/microbiology”. Selection criteria were: English language; at least one disinfection method tested. A total of 253 publications were screened. After title, abstract, and full-text analysis, 17 papers were included in the systematic review. Ethanol at 90%, Ethanol-Based Hands Sanitizer (EBHS), triclosan, chlorhexidine, isopropyl alcohol, 66% ethyl alcohol, sodium hypochlorite, and benzalkonium chloride have been proven to lower the presence of bacteria on stethoscopes’ surfaces. In addition, alcohol wipes show effective results. A wearable device emitting ultraviolet C by Light-Emitting Diode (LED) resulted efficacious against common microorganisms involved in Healthcare Associated Infections. The cover impregnated with silver ions seemed to be associated with significantly higher colony counts. Instead, copper stethoscopes surface reduced bacterial load. The disinfection of stethoscopes appears to be essential. There are many valid methods available; the choice depends on various factors, such as the cost, availability, and practicality.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Methods of Disinfecting Stethoscopes: Systematic Review

Napolitani

Battaglia

Moirano

et al. 2020

IJERPH

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“…Then, the diaphragm of the Stethoscopes was cleaned with various disinfectants. [10] 33 were disinfected with soap and water, 33 with 70% isopropyl alcohol, 33 with Savlon and 33 with surgical spirit. Second swab was taken after disinfection.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Stethoscopes - A Potential Vector in Hospitalacquired Infections

Abarna.

Vitheeswari.

Sriram

2020

ijsr

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Introduction: Stethoscopes serve as a potential source for pathogenic bacteria in the transmission of hospital acquired infections. Routine disinfection of stethoscopes could reduce the potential for transmission by reducing the burden of contamination. Despite these facts, a few health care workers disinfect their stethoscopes regularly. Aim: To study the diversity of pathogenic organisms on the diaphragm of stethoscopes and the efficacy of various disinfectants will be compared; and the knowledge and practices in disinfection of stethoscopes among health care workers will be assessed. Materials & Methods: This is a cross sectional study involving a total of 132 health care workers including doctors, nurses and interns. Three swabs were collected from the same individual’s stethoscopes. First swab collected before disinfection, second swab after disinfection (soap and water, 70% isopropyl alcohol, Savlon or surgical spirit) and the third swab after examining a patient. Questionnaire was given to them to evaluate their practices regarding cleaning of their stethoscopes. Results: 94(71.21%) samples taken before disinfection were contaminated with mixed microbial flora, including 29(30.85%) MRSA. After examining patients using disinfected stethoscopes, 103(78%) samples revealed growth of different organisms like Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus-MRSA, Methicillin sensitive Staphylococcus aureus-MSSA, Gram negative bacilli and other normal skin flora. 112(84.85%) participants accepted that stethoscopes could transmit infectious diseases and they must be cleaned regularly. But in practice, only 72(54.55%) are cleaning it and most of them were using surgical spirit. Out of the four disinfectants tested, Surgical spirit and 70% Isopropyl alcohol were found to be effective. Conclusion: Despite having knowledge about the significance of cleaning the stethoscopes, lesser percentage of Healthcare workers follow it in practice. There is a high transmissibility of human skin flora along with pathogens like MRSA among patients through stethoscopes. Thus, stethoscopes act as a potential vector in the spread of nosocomial infections. Hence it is mandatory to clean and disinfect the stethoscopes after each patient examination.

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