Title: Bacterial and Fungal Flora on Stethoscopes of Healthcare Workers in Navi Mumbai and Effective use of 70% Isopropyl Alcohol as a Disinfectant
Authors: N.Kamath, R.Swaminathan, A.Prabhu
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.18535/jmscr/v5i2.76
Abstract
Hospital acquired infections are recognised as critical public health problems. Infections are frequently caused by organisms residing on patient’s skin-normal flora and medical equipment including stethoscopes. Nosocomial infections account for morbidity and mortality of patients and increased healthcare cost. This study was undertaken to determine the cleaning practices of their stethoscopes among healthcare providers as stethoscopes can be a potential source of nosocomial infections; and to compare the effectiveness of the commonly used antiseptic- 70% isopropyl alcohol in disinfecting stethoscopes. The study group included Associate professors, Assistant Professors, General practitioners, Residents, Interns, Nurses and medical students.
Cleaning/disinfection practices of the stethoscopes by healthcare providers are noted and culture samples were collected by using sterile swabs of 60 stethoscopes and demonstrated the cleaning of diaphragm of the stethoscopes after every patient and 60 post cleaning samples were also collected. All the samples were subjected to bacteriological culture and fungal culture; hence the flora of the stethoscopes were determined.
Results showed that cleaning the stethoscopes with 70% isopropyl alcohol reduced the bacterial and fungal count by 98-100%.
30% (18 of 60) healthcare providers cleaned their stethoscopes daily prior to the survey, 36.66% (22 of 60) doing it weekly, 10 % (6 0f 60) cleaned monthly and 18.33%(11 of 60) had never cleaned their Stethoscopes or they were cleaning it infrequently. Health care providers were made aware of the flora of the bacteria and fungi residing on their stethoscope and they have promised to clean it regularly. Common isolates were Staphylocooci, Streptococci, E.coli, Klebsiella Spp. Proteus vulgaris, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Candida Spp, Diphtheroids, Coagulase negative Staphylococcus, Bacillus Spp. and Micrococcus Spp. Aspergillus Spp.
Post cleaning with 70% isopropyl alcohol confirmed that flora can be removed which takes few seconds which can prevent a huge healthcare burden.
Our study confirms that stethoscopes carry bacteria and fungi which can be a potential source of hospital acquired infections which when disinfected regularly can prevent infections and save patients.
Keywords: Stethoscope,Nosocomial infections, CFU, SDA.
