Annals of Emergency Medicine
Volume 26, Issue 3 , Pages 296-299 , September 1995

Stethoscopes: A Potential Vector of Infection?

Presented at the ACEP Research Forum, San Francisco, February 1995.

Received 31 October 1994 ,Revised 2 February 1995 ,Accepted 13 February 1995.

References 

  1. Haley RW, Culver DH, White JW, et al.  The efficacy of infection surveillance and control programs in preventing nosocomial infections in US hospitals. Am J Epidemiol. 1985;121:182–205
  2. Gerken A, Cavanagh S, Winner HI. Infection hazard from stethoscopes in hospital. Lancet. 1972;1:1214–1215
  3. Aycliffe GA, Lowbury EJI, Geddes AM, et al.  Decontamination of the environment, equipment and the skin. In: ed 3.  Lowbury EJI editors. Control of Hospital Infections: A Practical Handbook. London: Chapman and Hall Medical; 1992;p. 78–114
  4. Breathnach AS, Jenkins DR, Pedler SJ. Stethoscopes as possible vectors of infection by staphylococci. BMJ. 1992;305:1573–1574
  5. Layton MC, Perez M, Heald P, et al.  An outbreak of mupirocin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus on a dermatology ward associated with an environmental reservoir. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 1993;14:369–375
  6. Livornese L, Dias S, Samel C, et al.  Hospital-acquired infection with vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium transmitted by electronic thermometers. Ann Intern Med. 1992;117:112–116
  7. Patterson JE, Vecchio J, Pantelick EL, et al.  Association of contaminated gloves with transmission of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus var. anitratus in an intensive care unit. Am J Med. 1991;91:479–483
  8. Wong D, Nye K, Hollis P. Microbial flora on doctors' white coats. BMJ. 1991;303:1602–1604
  9. Meengs MR, Giles BK, Chisholm CD, et al.  Hand washing frequency in an emergency department. Ann Emerg Med. 1994;23:1307–1312
  10. In: ed 2.  Zimmerman L,  Neuman M,  Jurewicz D editor. Infection Control For Prehospital Care Providers. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Mercy Ambulance; 1993;p. 13–14

☆ Department of Emergency Medicine, Butterworth Hospital, Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, Grand Rapids, Michigan.

☆☆ Address for reprints: Jeffrey S Jones, MD, FACEP, Department of Emergency Medicine, 100 Michigan Avenue Northeast, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49503, 616-776-1973, Fax 616-732-3730

★ Reprint no. 47/1/66638

PII: S0196-0644(95)70075-7

Annals of Emergency Medicine
Volume 26, Issue 3 , Pages 296-299 , September 1995

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