Start Date
23-8-2019 9:00 AM
End Date
23-8-2019 11:00 AM
Abstract
Abstract:
Background: We live in an era of increased efforts aimed at preventing healthcare-
associated infections. Hospitals create specific guidelines when discussing hand-
hygiene, particular protocols for catheter-associated infections or surgical site
infections; however, stethoscope cleaning is very rarely brought into the conversation
(Ghumman et al., 2018). Only about 3.9% of healthcare workers are cleaning their
stethoscopes after every patient contact and only 9.7% are cleaning it at least once
daily (Walsh, 2013). With these alarming numbers stated about healthcare providers
and stethoscope disinfection, the potential contamination and pathogen transmission
by stethoscopes has been noticed as a potential source of hospital acquired
infections.
Objectives: Clearer guidelines must be implemented to all healthcare workers about
the necessity and frequency of cleaning their stethoscopes. Findings indicate that
HCPs generally do understand the need to clean stethoscopes, but current cleaning
behaviors are not sufficient (Ali et al., 2016). Experimental research was done to
determine what the most effective way for HCPs to clean their stethoscopes is after
each patient use and what frequency and technique is most appropriate. These
findings were analyzed to determine if a higher frequency of disinfecting stethoscopes
daily would be related to decreasing the amount of hospital infection rates.
Method: The design for this study was an integrative review of literature aimed at
discovering the current practice of physicians, nurses and all healthcare providers in
stethoscope disinfection.
Results: The need to increase education is definitely necessary and CDC guidelines
remain unclear on the frequency of stethoscope cleaning. There is less healthcare
consensus regarding the optimal frequency of stethoscope cleaning, or what the most
effective disinfectants might be (Ghumman et al., 2018).
Conclusion: Hospitals should be including stethoscope cleaning and awareness into
their overall infection prevention efforts.
Key words: stethoscope, infection, hospital-acquired infections, healthcare providers,
disinfection, disinfection rates, contamination, CDC, nosocomial infections, HCAIs.
Included in
Stethoscope Disinfection Rates on the Prevalence of Hospital Acquired Infections
Abstract:
Background: We live in an era of increased efforts aimed at preventing healthcare-
associated infections. Hospitals create specific guidelines when discussing hand-
hygiene, particular protocols for catheter-associated infections or surgical site
infections; however, stethoscope cleaning is very rarely brought into the conversation
(Ghumman et al., 2018). Only about 3.9% of healthcare workers are cleaning their
stethoscopes after every patient contact and only 9.7% are cleaning it at least once
daily (Walsh, 2013). With these alarming numbers stated about healthcare providers
and stethoscope disinfection, the potential contamination and pathogen transmission
by stethoscopes has been noticed as a potential source of hospital acquired
infections.
Objectives: Clearer guidelines must be implemented to all healthcare workers about
the necessity and frequency of cleaning their stethoscopes. Findings indicate that
HCPs generally do understand the need to clean stethoscopes, but current cleaning
behaviors are not sufficient (Ali et al., 2016). Experimental research was done to
determine what the most effective way for HCPs to clean their stethoscopes is after
each patient use and what frequency and technique is most appropriate. These
findings were analyzed to determine if a higher frequency of disinfecting stethoscopes
daily would be related to decreasing the amount of hospital infection rates.
Method: The design for this study was an integrative review of literature aimed at
discovering the current practice of physicians, nurses and all healthcare providers in
stethoscope disinfection.
Results: The need to increase education is definitely necessary and CDC guidelines
remain unclear on the frequency of stethoscope cleaning. There is less healthcare
consensus regarding the optimal frequency of stethoscope cleaning, or what the most
effective disinfectants might be (Ghumman et al., 2018).
Conclusion: Hospitals should be including stethoscope cleaning and awareness into
their overall infection prevention efforts.
Key words: stethoscope, infection, hospital-acquired infections, healthcare providers,
disinfection, disinfection rates, contamination, CDC, nosocomial infections, HCAIs.