14
Dec 2018
Study warns of dangerous levels of bacteria hidden in doctors’ stethoscopes
A new study has revealed that stethoscopes used by doctors are dangerously unclean, putting patients at risk of contracting MRSA and staph infections.
The research that took place at University of Pennsylvania studied 40 of the instruments used by doctors at the intensive care unit at the university’s medical centre. All of the stethoscopes were contaminated with multiple types of bacteria and each one carried the germ which causes the staph infection and have had MRSA bacteria.
It has been reported that in the US, at any given moment, one in every 25 hospital patients contracts a hospital-acquired infection.
Every infection is able to attack surgical sites, weakened immune systems and healing or open wounds.
The most effective measures against the spread of infections are simple, and the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention in the US are calling for doctors to meticulously decontaminate themselves and their instruments between each patient they treat.
Study author Dr Ronald Collman said “This study underscores the importance of adhering to rigorous infection control procedures, including fully adhering to CDC-recommended decontamination procedures between patients, or using single-patient-use stethoscopes kept in each patient’s room.”
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Posted by Karen Motley, Paralegal, Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (karenmotley@chadlaw.co.uk), medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.
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