Vasudevan RS, Nedjat-Haiem MA, Mahadevan A, Herbert MS, Lander L, Warsi T, Shaikh U, Harding C, Savoia MC. Assessing Changes in
Stethoscope Hygiene During COVID-19: A Multicentre Cross-Sectional Study.
J Hosp Infect 2022;
127:1-6. [PMID:
35671861 PMCID:
PMC9167726 DOI:
10.1016/j.jhin.2022.05.019]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2022] [Revised: 05/29/2022] [Accepted: 05/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Background
The COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic has increased infection control vigilance across several modes of patient contact. However, it is unknown whether hygiene pertaining to stethoscopes, which carry the potential for pathogenic contamination, has also shifted accordingly.
Aim
To characterize pandemic-related changes in stethoscope hygiene.
Methods
We surveyed healthcare providers at three major medical centres. Questions quantitatively (Likert scale and frequency) assessed stethoscope hygiene beliefs and practices with two components: before and during COVID-19. Participants were grouped based on performance of optimal stethoscope hygiene (after every patient) before and during COVID-19. Groups were compared using χ2 and analysis of variance (ANOVA).
Findings
Of the 515 (10%) who completed the survey, 55 were excluded (N = 460). Optimal hygiene increased from 27.4% to 55.0% (P < 0.001). There were significant increases in Likert scores for all questions pertaining to knowledge of stethoscope contamination (P < 0.001). Belief in stethoscope contamination increased (P < 0.001) despite no change in perceived hygiene education. Resident physicians were less likely compared with attending physicians and nurses to have adopted optimal hygiene during COVID-19 (P < 0.001).
Conclusion
Despite a positive shift in stethoscope hygiene during COVID-19, optimal hygiene was still only performed by around half of providers. Educational interventions, particularly targeting early-career providers, are encouraged.
Collapse