(HealthDay)—Stethoscope hygiene is rarely performed by trainee physicians, according to a research letter published online April 2 in the Journal of Hospital Medicine.
Ian Harold Jenkins, M.D., from the University of California in San Diego, and colleagues observed student and trainee physician stethoscope hygiene performance during hospital medicine rotations. Stethoscope hygiene was observed at three sites over an 11-month period. Overall, 352 opportunities for stethoscope hygiene were observed. Trainees were unaware that their stethoscope hygiene performance was being recorded.
The researchers found that doctors or students used stethoscope hygiene in 16 percent of the opportunities to do so (58 encounters). Twenty of these events occurred after a trainee observed an attending physician performing stethoscope hygiene. Excluding events that were triggered by an attending physician, stethoscope hygiene was performed in 11 percent of 332 opportunities. The rate of stethoscope hygiene performance was significantly higher in isolation versus non-isolation rooms (82.7 versus 4.6 percent; P < 0.001). Ninety percent of the isolation room stethoscope hygiene events involved use of an isolation stethoscope, compared with 10 percent that involved a personal stethoscope.
"Stethoscope hygiene is rarely performed by trainees," the authors write. "The very low rate of stethoscope hygiene after contact with non-isolation patients represents a current and potentially serious safety threat."
Explore further: Presence of peers ups health workers' hand hygiene
More information: Abstract
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(HealthDay)—Stethoscope hygiene is rarely performed by trainee physicians, according to a research letter published online April 2 in the Journal of Hospital Medicine.
Ian Harold Jenkins, M.D., from the University of California in San Diego, and colleagues observed student and trainee physician stethoscope hygiene performance during hospital medicine rotations. Stethoscope hygiene was observed at three sites over an 11-month period. Overall, 352 opportunities for stethoscope hygiene were observed. Trainees were unaware that their stethoscope hygiene performance was being recorded.
The researchers found that doctors or students used stethoscope hygiene in 16 percent of the opportunities to do so (58 encounters). Twenty of these events occurred after a trainee observed an attending physician performing stethoscope hygiene. Excluding events that were triggered by an attending physician, stethoscope hygiene was performed in 11 percent of 332 opportunities. The rate of stethoscope hygiene performance was significantly higher in isolation versus non-isolation rooms (82.7 versus 4.6 percent; P < 0.001). Ninety percent of the isolation room stethoscope hygiene events involved use of an isolation stethoscope, compared with 10 percent that involved a personal stethoscope.
"Stethoscope hygiene is rarely performed by trainees," the authors write. "The very low rate of stethoscope hygiene after contact with non-isolation patients represents a current and potentially serious safety threat."
Explore further: Presence of peers ups health workers' hand hygiene
More information: Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Copyright © 2015 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Medical Xpress on facebook
Related Stories
Physicians' stethoscopes more contaminated than palms of their hands
Although healthcare workers' hands are the main source of bacterial transmission in hospitals, physicians' stethoscopes appear to play a role. To explore this question, investigators at the University of Geneva Hospitals ...
ACEP: emergency care providers have poor hand hygiene: survey
(HealthDay)—Only 13 percent of emergency medical personnel say they clean their hands before touching patients, according to the results of a survey presented at the annual meeting of the American College ...
Study shows we trust the stethoscope
(Medical Xpress) -- A Curtin University study has shown doctors seeking to earn their clients’ trust while conducting e-consultations should wear a stethoscope and surround themselves with medical tools of the trade.
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(HealthDay)—The presence of other health care workers improves hand hygiene adherence, according to a study published in the October issue of Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology.
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Even though astronauts receive some general medical training in preparation for a stay aboard the ISS, most of them still aren't medical professionals by any means—and with the inherent difficulties of ...
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Nearly 40 percent of Americans 60 and older are living with a swallowing disorder known as dysphagia. Although it is a major health problem associated with aging, it is unknown whether the condition is a ...
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Three members of a Delaware family remained hospitalized Tuesday as federal officials continued to investigate their exposure to a toxic chemical during a vacation at a Virgin Islands resort.
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Gene variant and environment can boost severity of respiratory syncytial virus
A particular genetic mutation combined with an urban environment increases the risk of severe disease in children infected with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), an international team of investigators has found.
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