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1.
Stewart KA , Navarro SM , Kambala S , Tan G , Poondla R , Lederman S , Barbour K , Lavy C , 2020. Trends in ultrasound use in low and middle income countries: a systematic review. Int J Matern Child Heal AIDS. 9: 103–120.
-
2.
Touw HRW , Tuinman PR , Gelissen HPMM , Lust E , Elbers PWG , 2015. Lung ultrasound: routine practice for the next generation of internists. Neth J Med 73: 100–107.
-
3.
Solomon SD , Saldana F , 2014. Point-of-care ultrasound in medical education—stop listening and look. N Engl J Med 370: 1083–1085.
-
4.
Winkler MH , Touw HR , van de Ven PM , Twisk J , Tuinman PR , 2018. Diagnostic accuracy of chest radiograph, and when concomitantly studied lung ultrasound, in critically ill patients with respiratory symptoms: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Crit Care Med 46: e707–e714.
-
5.
Arts L , Lim EHT , van de Ven PM , Heunks L , Tuinman PR , 2020. The diagnostic accuracy of lung auscultation in adult patients with acute pulmonary pathologies: a meta-analysis. Sci Rep 10: 7347.
-
6.
Knecht VR , McGinniss JE , Shankar HM , Clarke EL , Kelly BJ , Imai I , Fitzgerald AS , Bittinger K , Bushman FD , Collman RG , 2019. Molecular analysis of bacterial contamination on stethoscopes in an intensive care unit. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 40: 171–177.
-
7.
Russotto V , Cortegiani A , Raineri SM , Giarratano A , 2015. Bacterial contamination of inanimate surfaces and equipment in the intensive care unit. J Intensive Care 3: 54.
-
8.
Lawrence MW , Blanks J , Ayala R , Talk D , Macian D , Glasser J , Schofer JM , 2014. Hospital-wide survey of bacterial contamination of point-of-care ultrasound probes and coupling gel. J Ultrasound Med 33: 457–462.
-
9.
Bures S , Fishbain JT , Uyehara CFT , Parker JM , Berg BW , 2000. Computer keyboards and faucet handles as reservoirs of nosocomial pathogens in the intensive care unit. Am J Infect Control 28: 465–471.
-
10.
Kei J , Richards JR , 2011. The prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus on inanimate objects in an urban emergency department. J Emerg Med 41: 124–127.
-
11.
Abdelfattah R , Al-Jumaah S , Al-Qahtani A , Al-Thawadi S , Barron I , Al-Mofada S , 2018. Outbreak of Burkholderia cepacia bacteraemia in a tertiary care centre due to contaminated ultrasound probe gel. J Hosp Infect 98: 289–294.
-
12.
Cheung JC , Lam KN , 2020. POCUS in COVID-19: pearls and pitfalls. Lancet Respir Med 8: e34.
-
13.
Fowler C , McCracken D , 1999. US probes: risk of cross infection and ways to reduce it—comparison of cleaning methods. Radiology 213: 299–300.
| Past two years | Past Year | Past 30 Days | |
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| Abstract Views | 9355 | 2064 | 315 |
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Bacterial Contamination of Ultrasound and Stethoscope Surfaces in Low- and High-Resource Settings
Micah L. A. Heldeweg
Micah L. A. Heldeweg
Department of Intensive Care Medicine, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Location VUmc, Amsterdam, The Netherlands;
Department of Internal Medicine, Sint Elisabeth Hospital, Willemstad, Curaçao;
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Department of Internal Medicine, Sint Elisabeth Hospital, Willemstad, Curaçao;
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Kenrick Berend
Kenrick Berend
Department of Internal Medicine, Sint Elisabeth Hospital, Willemstad, Curaçao;
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Laura Cadenau
Laura Cadenau
Department of Medical Microbiology, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Location VUmc, Amsterdam, The Netherlands;
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Andert Rosingh
Andert Rosingh
Department of Medical Microbiology, Curaçao Medical Center, Willemstad, Curaçao
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Ashley J. Duits
Ashley J. Duits
Department of Medical Microbiology, Curaçao Medical Center, Willemstad, Curaçao
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Rosa van Mansfeld
Rosa van Mansfeld
Department of Medical Microbiology, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Location VUmc, Amsterdam, The Netherlands;
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Pieter R. Tuinman
Pieter R. Tuinman
Department of Intensive Care Medicine, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Location VUmc, Amsterdam, The Netherlands;
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ABSTRACT.
Point-of-care ultrasound is an accurate diagnostic and monitoring tool. Its increasing affordability, portability, and versatility make it an excellent component of standard clinical evaluation alongside the stethoscope. However, like the stethoscope, ultrasound carries risks of surface contamination and potential cross-infection. In this international observational study, we compared the surface contamination of ultrasound equipment to stethoscopes in two medical centers: a tropical low-resource hospital and academic high-resource hospital. Ultrasound equipment and coupling gel had similar prevalence of microbial surface contamination compared with observed stethoscopes. Most microbes were commensal Gram-positive, but some were opportunistic and pathogenic microbes (such as Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus). In conclusion, it is crucial to appreciate and reduce the risk of ultrasound device contaminations. When ultrasound is used bedside, similar to stethoscopes, conscientious hygiene measures are equally fundamental.
- Supplemental Materials (PDF 547 KB)
Author Notes
Financial support: The processing of 36 cultures by ADC (3.823,97 ANG) was paid for by the Netherlands–Caribbean Foundation for Clinical Higher Education (NASKHO).
Authors’ addresses: Micah L. A. Heldeweg, Department of Intensive Care Medicine, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, and Department of Internal Medicine, Sint Elisabeth Hospital, Willemstad, Curaçao, E-mail: m.heldeweg@amsterdamumc.nl. Kenrick Berend, Department of Internal Medicine, Sint Elisabeth Hospital, Willemstad, Curaçao, E-mail: kenber2@me.com. Laura Cadenau, Department of Medical Microbiology, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, E-mail: l.cadenau@amsterdamumc.nl. Andert Rosingh and Ashley J. Duits, Department of Medical Microbiology, Curaçao Medical Center, Willemstad, Curaçao, E-mails: rosingh@hotmail.com and ajduits@gmail.com. Rosa van Mansfeld, Department of Medical Microbiology, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, E-mail: r.vanmansfeld@amsterdamumc.nl. Pieter R. Tuinman, Department of Intensive Care Medicine, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, E-mail: p.tuinman@amsterdamumc.nl.
ProCite
RefWorks
Reference Manager
BibTeX
Zotero
EndNote
-
1.
Stewart KA , Navarro SM , Kambala S , Tan G , Poondla R , Lederman S , Barbour K , Lavy C , 2020. Trends in ultrasound use in low and middle income countries: a systematic review. Int J Matern Child Heal AIDS. 9: 103–120.
-
2.
Touw HRW , Tuinman PR , Gelissen HPMM , Lust E , Elbers PWG , 2015. Lung ultrasound: routine practice for the next generation of internists. Neth J Med 73: 100–107.
-
3.
Solomon SD , Saldana F , 2014. Point-of-care ultrasound in medical education—stop listening and look. N Engl J Med 370: 1083–1085.
-
4.
Winkler MH , Touw HR , van de Ven PM , Twisk J , Tuinman PR , 2018. Diagnostic accuracy of chest radiograph, and when concomitantly studied lung ultrasound, in critically ill patients with respiratory symptoms: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Crit Care Med 46: e707–e714.
-
5.
Arts L , Lim EHT , van de Ven PM , Heunks L , Tuinman PR , 2020. The diagnostic accuracy of lung auscultation in adult patients with acute pulmonary pathologies: a meta-analysis. Sci Rep 10: 7347.
-
6.
Knecht VR , McGinniss JE , Shankar HM , Clarke EL , Kelly BJ , Imai I , Fitzgerald AS , Bittinger K , Bushman FD , Collman RG , 2019. Molecular analysis of bacterial contamination on stethoscopes in an intensive care unit. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 40: 171–177.
-
7.
Russotto V , Cortegiani A , Raineri SM , Giarratano A , 2015. Bacterial contamination of inanimate surfaces and equipment in the intensive care unit. J Intensive Care 3: 54.
-
8.
Lawrence MW , Blanks J , Ayala R , Talk D , Macian D , Glasser J , Schofer JM , 2014. Hospital-wide survey of bacterial contamination of point-of-care ultrasound probes and coupling gel. J Ultrasound Med 33: 457–462.
-
9.
Bures S , Fishbain JT , Uyehara CFT , Parker JM , Berg BW , 2000. Computer keyboards and faucet handles as reservoirs of nosocomial pathogens in the intensive care unit. Am J Infect Control 28: 465–471.
-
10.
Kei J , Richards JR , 2011. The prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus on inanimate objects in an urban emergency department. J Emerg Med 41: 124–127.
-
11.
Abdelfattah R , Al-Jumaah S , Al-Qahtani A , Al-Thawadi S , Barron I , Al-Mofada S , 2018. Outbreak of Burkholderia cepacia bacteraemia in a tertiary care centre due to contaminated ultrasound probe gel. J Hosp Infect 98: 289–294.
-
12.
Cheung JC , Lam KN , 2020. POCUS in COVID-19: pearls and pitfalls. Lancet Respir Med 8: e34.
-
13.
Fowler C , McCracken D , 1999. US probes: risk of cross infection and ways to reduce it—comparison of cleaning methods. Radiology 213: 299–300.
| Past two years | Past Year | Past 30 Days | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abstract Views | 9355 | 2064 | 315 |
| Full Text Views | 269 | 122 | 0 |
| PDF Downloads | 119 | 21 | 0 |