tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8066238290370557389.post1758023095117911892..comments2024-03-20T04:44:15.540-05:00Comments on Controversies in Hospital Infection Prevention: Cover that stethoscope!Dan Diekemahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10231929371552334184noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8066238290370557389.post-40433788472582081792011-06-28T09:47:02.779-05:002011-06-28T09:47:02.779-05:00We just had a mock JACHO survey and were told that...We just had a mock JACHO survey and were told that we were in need a policy for staff to disinfect their personal stethoscopes after each patient. I have looked at the limited research on this and conclude that stethoscopes diaphragms are generally colonized with very low numbers of normal skin flora and occassionaly by staph aureus. Cleansing the diaphragm with alcohol gels decreases the presence of staph aureus by about 50%. However, no studies indicate that routine disinfection has any impact on HAI and there is no data that the alcohol gel with emollients can regularly be applied to the stethoscope diaphragm without leading to speedy deterioration of the stethoscope. <br /><br />Does anybody think routine disinfection of personal sthetoscopes should be a JACHO quality standard?<br /><br />Gary Kravitz MD, United Hospital, St. Paul, MNGary Kravitz MDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03692234699803889262noreply@blogger.com