STUDY OBJECTIVE: We evaluate the frequency of emergency department (ED) ultrasonographic probe contamination and the bacterial species involved and evaluate probe cleaning and disinfection methods. METHODS: This was a 3-part observational cross-sectional study. Surveillance cultures were taken of linear and curvilinear probes on 3 ultrasonographic machines between patient encounters. Cultures of uncovered probes were taken immediately after scanning of skin and soft tissue infections. After experimental probe contamination with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), we assessed 3-step disinfection by sequential cleaning with a dry towel, saline solution-moistened towel, and quaternary ammonia germicidal wipe and 1-step disinfection by germicidal wipe alone. Cultures were obtained by applying the probe to a blood agar plate. RESULTS: In part 1, of 164 surveillance cultures obtained from 6 probes on 29 sampling days during 11 months, 111 (67%; 95% confidence interval [CI] 60% to 74%) grew normal skin flora or environmental flora, 52 had no growth (32%; 95% CI 25% to 39%), and 2 (1.2%; 95% CI 0.3% to 4.3%) grew a clinically important pathogen. In part 2, 14 of 20 (70%; 95% CI 48% to 85%) cultures taken after skin and soft tissue infection scanning produced heavy growth of a clinically important pathogen, including 13 S aureus (5 MRSA). In part 3, cleaning with a dry and moist towel reduced but did not eliminate MRSA. The germicidal wipe step resulted in no growth in 15 of 15 (100%; 95% CI 80% to 100%) cultures in 3-step disinfection and in 9 of 10 (90%; 95% CI 60% to 98%) when used alone. CONCLUSION: Skin and environmental flora are commonly present on ultrasonographic probes between patient encounters in our ED; however, clinically important pathogens are uncommon. S aureus (including MRSA) frequently contaminates uncovered probes during skin and soft tissue infection scanning, but in an experimental model, MRSA appears to be reliably removed by a quaternary ammonia germicidal wipe if the probe is partially cleaned first.
STUDY OBJECTIVE: We evaluate the frequency of emergency department (ED) ultrasonographic probe contamination and the bacterial species involved and evaluate probe cleaning and disinfection methods. METHODS: This was a 3-part observational cross-sectional study. Surveillance cultures were taken of linear and curvilinear probes on 3 ultrasonographic machines between patient encounters. Cultures of uncovered probes were taken immediately after scanning of skin and soft tissue infections. After experimental probe contamination with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), we assessed 3-step disinfection by sequential cleaning with a dry towel, saline solution-moistened towel, and quaternary ammonia germicidal wipe and 1-step disinfection by germicidal wipe alone. Cultures were obtained by applying the probe to a blood agar plate. RESULTS: In part 1, of 164 surveillance cultures obtained from 6 probes on 29 sampling days during 11 months, 111 (67%; 95% confidence interval [CI] 60% to 74%) grew normal skin flora or environmental flora, 52 had no growth (32%; 95% CI 25% to 39%), and 2 (1.2%; 95% CI 0.3% to 4.3%) grew a clinically important pathogen. In part 2, 14 of 20 (70%; 95% CI 48% to 85%) cultures taken after skin and soft tissue infection scanning produced heavy growth of a clinically important pathogen, including 13 S aureus (5 MRSA). In part 3, cleaning with a dry and moist towel reduced but did not eliminate MRSA. The germicidal wipe step resulted in no growth in 15 of 15 (100%; 95% CI 80% to 100%) cultures in 3-step disinfection and in 9 of 10 (90%; 95% CI 60% to 98%) when used alone. CONCLUSION: Skin and environmental flora are commonly present on ultrasonographic probes between patient encounters in our ED; however, clinically important pathogens are uncommon. S aureus (including MRSA) frequently contaminates uncovered probes during skin and soft tissue infection scanning, but in an experimental model, MRSA appears to be reliably removed by a quaternary ammonia germicidal wipe if the probe is partially cleaned first.
Authors: Thomas Sartoretti; Elisabeth Sartoretti; Candid Bucher; Aleksis Doert; Christoph Binkert; Klaus Hergan; Matthias Meissnitzer; Johannes Froehlich; Orpheus Kolokythas; Simon Matoori; Christina Orasch; Sebastian Kos; Sabine Sartoretti-Schefer; Andreas Gutzeit Journal: Eur Radiol Date: 2017-04-03 Impact factor: 5.315