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.
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.
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
Authors: Micah L A Heldeweg; Kenrick Berend; Laura Cadenau; Andert Rosingh; Ashley J Duits; Rosa van Mansfeld; Pieter R Tuinman Journal: Am J Trop Med Hyg Date: 2022-07-05 Impact factor: 3.707