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Mayo Clin Proc Innov Qual Outcomes. 2020 Feb 05;4(1):21-30. doi: 10.1016/j.mayocpiqo.2019.10.010. eCollection 2020 Feb.

Aseptic Barriers Allow a Clean Contact for Contaminated Stethoscope Diaphragms.

Mayo Clinic proceedings. Innovations, quality & outcomes

Rajiv Vasudevan, Ji H Shin, Jessica Chopyk, William F Peacock, Francesca J Torriani, Alan S Maisel, David T Pride

Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, TX.
  2. Department of Pathology, University of California, San Diego, TX.
  3. Department of Emergency Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX.

PMID: 32055768 PMCID: PMC7010972 DOI: 10.1016/j.mayocpiqo.2019.10.010

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether a single-use stethoscope diaphragm barrier surface remains aseptic when placed on pathogen-contaminated stethoscopes.

METHODS: From May 31 to August 5, 2019, we tested 2 separate barriers using 3 different strains of 7 human pathogens, including extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing

RESULTS: For all diaphragms with either of the 2 barriers tested, no growth was recorded for any of the pathogens. Stethoscopes with aseptic barriers remained sterile for up to 24 hours. These single-use barriers also provided aseptic surfaces when stethoscope diaphragms were inoculated with human specimens, including saliva, stool, urine, and sputum.

CONCLUSION: Disposable aseptic diaphragm barriers may provide robust and efficient solutions to reduce transmission of pathogens via stethoscopes.

© 2020 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Keywords: B+, stethoscope diaphragms with disc barriers; BC, disc barriers colonized with microorganisms; B−, colonized diaphragms without disc barriers; CFU, colony-forming unit; Ctrl, control; ESBL, extended-spectrum β-lactamase–producing Escherichia coli; HAI, health care–associated infection; HP, health care provider; MDR, multidrug resistant; MDRO, multidrug-resistant organism; MRSA, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus; VRE, vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus

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