Recent research has indicated that stethoscopes used in an intensive care unit (ICU) are loaded with bacteria, including those that may be associated with hospital-acquired infections. Moreover, standard cleaning methods do not eliminate the problems. Practitioner stethoscopes are contaminated by a plethora of bacteria, including organisms that may be associated with nosocomial infections.
The researchers found that all stethoscopes used in the ICU were significantly contaminated. The highest bacterial contamination levels were found on practitioner stethoscopes, followed by patient-room stethoscopes.
Studies have also concluded that the diaphragm of the stethoscope is more contaminated than other regions of the hand, including the skin around the base of the thumb and little finger, or the back of the hand.