Premium
Hospital‐Wide Survey of Bacterial Contamination of Point‐of‐Care Ultrasound Probes and Coupling Gel
Author(s) -
Lawrence Matthew W.,
Blanks James,
Ayala Ruben,
Talk Douglas,
Macian Diana,
Glasser Jessie,
Schofer Joel M.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
journal of ultrasound in medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.574
H-Index - 91
eISSN - 1550-9613
pISSN - 0278-4297
DOI - 10.7863/ultra.33.3.457
Subject(s) - medicine , point of care ultrasound , contamination , staphylococcus aureus , microbiological culture , bacteria , point of care , ultrasound , point of care testing , microbiology and biotechnology , pathology , radiology , biology , ecology , genetics
Objectives The purpose of this study was to determine the hospital‐wide incidence of bacterial contamination of point‐of‐care (bedside) ultrasound probes and coupling gel at a single academic medical center to predict the risk of nosocomial spread of infection. Methods Bacterial cultures were performed on all point‐of‐care ultrasound probe surfaces and associated gel bottles in our institution (82 total probes in 9 separate departments). This process was repeated every 2 weeks for a total of 8 weeks; therefore, each probe was cultured 4 times during the study period. Results Of the 320 probe cultures, 18 (5.6%), resulted in positive growth, all of which identified nonpathogenic organisms common to human skin flora and the environment. No methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus or other notable pathogens were identified. No gel cultures resulted in bacterial growth. Conclusions Bacterial contamination of point‐of‐care ultrasound probes and coupling gel is low at this single academic medical center and involves nonpathogenic organisms only.