Different faces of the stethoscope: history, usefulness, evolution, contamination, and disinfection practices
A stethoscope is a tool mainly used by physicians of various specialties in their daily work. Over the centuries, newer designs of this diagnostic tool have been improved and developed. A stethoscope in medical practice, which comes into contact with many patients, poses a high risk of infection tra...
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| Format: | Article |
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Termedia Publishing House
2024-11-01
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| Series: | Studia Medyczne |
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| Online Access: | https://www.termedia.pl/Different-faces-of-the-stethoscope-history-usefulness-evolution-contamination-and-disinfection-practices,67,54992,1,1.html |
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| author | Dorota Ochońska Monika Brzychczy-Włoch Katarzyna Talaga-Ćwiertnia |
| author_facet | Dorota Ochońska Monika Brzychczy-Włoch Katarzyna Talaga-Ćwiertnia |
| author_sort | Dorota Ochońska |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | A stethoscope is a tool mainly used by physicians of various specialties in their daily work. Over the centuries, newer designs of this diagnostic tool have been improved and developed. A stethoscope in medical practice, which comes into contact with many patients, poses a high risk of infection transmission and thus may increase the incidence of infection in healthcare facilities. Research data indicate that a stethoscope can be contaminated by 21–100% with clinically relevant bacterial pathogens, including multidrug-resistant strains. A stethoscope is considered non-critical equipment, and the recommendations for cleaning the stethoscope are after each patient, once a day, or once a week. However, there are still no clear-cut algorithms for its handling. The use of disinfectants requires the selection of a suitable agent that, with frequent disinfection of stethoscopes, will not damage sensitive parts and at the same time effectively remove pathogens. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-aa0af21983b64355bd6ed5eb720136e6 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1899-1874 2300-6722 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-11-01 |
| publisher | Termedia Publishing House |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Studia Medyczne |
| spelling | doaj-art-aa0af21983b64355bd6ed5eb720136e62025-08-20T01:50:42ZengTermedia Publishing HouseStudia Medyczne1899-18742300-67222024-11-01411536310.5114/ms.2024.14416054992Different faces of the stethoscope: history, usefulness, evolution, contamination, and disinfection practicesDorota OchońskaMonika Brzychczy-WłochKatarzyna Talaga-ĆwiertniaA stethoscope is a tool mainly used by physicians of various specialties in their daily work. Over the centuries, newer designs of this diagnostic tool have been improved and developed. A stethoscope in medical practice, which comes into contact with many patients, poses a high risk of infection transmission and thus may increase the incidence of infection in healthcare facilities. Research data indicate that a stethoscope can be contaminated by 21–100% with clinically relevant bacterial pathogens, including multidrug-resistant strains. A stethoscope is considered non-critical equipment, and the recommendations for cleaning the stethoscope are after each patient, once a day, or once a week. However, there are still no clear-cut algorithms for its handling. The use of disinfectants requires the selection of a suitable agent that, with frequent disinfection of stethoscopes, will not damage sensitive parts and at the same time effectively remove pathogens.https://www.termedia.pl/Different-faces-of-the-stethoscope-history-usefulness-evolution-contamination-and-disinfection-practices,67,54992,1,1.htmlthe history of the stethoscope stethoscope hygiene stethoscope contamination healthcare-associated infections (hais) usefulness of the stethoscope |
| spellingShingle | Dorota Ochońska Monika Brzychczy-Włoch Katarzyna Talaga-Ćwiertnia Different faces of the stethoscope: history, usefulness, evolution, contamination, and disinfection practices Studia Medyczne the history of the stethoscope stethoscope hygiene stethoscope contamination healthcare-associated infections (hais) usefulness of the stethoscope |
| title | Different faces of the stethoscope: history, usefulness, evolution, contamination, and disinfection practices |
| title_full | Different faces of the stethoscope: history, usefulness, evolution, contamination, and disinfection practices |
| title_fullStr | Different faces of the stethoscope: history, usefulness, evolution, contamination, and disinfection practices |
| title_full_unstemmed | Different faces of the stethoscope: history, usefulness, evolution, contamination, and disinfection practices |
| title_short | Different faces of the stethoscope: history, usefulness, evolution, contamination, and disinfection practices |
| title_sort | different faces of the stethoscope history usefulness evolution contamination and disinfection practices |
| topic | the history of the stethoscope stethoscope hygiene stethoscope contamination healthcare-associated infections (hais) usefulness of the stethoscope |
| url | https://www.termedia.pl/Different-faces-of-the-stethoscope-history-usefulness-evolution-contamination-and-disinfection-practices,67,54992,1,1.html |
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