How Clean Is Your Stethoscope?

Im wondering if they could make autoclavable scopes, which can be sterilized at the end of a shift.
In the hospital environment, I have mine sterilized every week or so by ethylene oxide sterilization. You might check with your local facilitiy to see if they have EtO. If so, they'd probably be happy to run your stethoscope through every now and then.
 
I use these products which come in the large canisters and easy to carry packets.

http://www.pdipdi.com/healthcare/surface_disinfect.aspx

I use what will work on whatever virus or bacteria I am aware of. If you are transporting a patient at a hospital or NH where there are known Clostridium difficile (C-diff) precautions, see what they are using since this particular bacteria is resistant to many regular disinfectants.

Hopefully I dont look like an idiot, but low alcohol or high alcohol? 5 minutes seems a bit long, since the solutions are fairly volatile and evaporate really fast. And 55% isopropyl compared to 70% isopropyl would do relatively the same damage to the scope.

Now we use the purple ones (high alcohol), but I havent been in the business long enough to ruin something like a scope to know if the purple wipes cause damage.
 
Is disposable scopes an option?
 
Is disposable scopes an option?

I have seen those cots for the end of a scope advertised but I dont' know how well they work. They always look to me like they would interfere with the sound.

I just virex mine. When the membrane tanks.. I put another one on it. That's why they give you extras.
 
Is disposable scopes an option?

Yes I posted a link somewhere in this discussion. You can buy them for about $5 each.
 
Yes I posted a link somewhere in this discussion. You can buy them for about $5 each.

do you consider that economically logical? Even if you threw away the scope every two weeks it would be cheaper to properly maintain a $40-70 scope until it was shot
 
do you consider that economically logical? Even if you threw away the scope every two weeks it would be cheaper to properly maintain a $40-70 scope until it was shot

Patient would pay for it so not a problem. All disposables are billed to each patient.
 
Let's forget the economic issues, and think ecological. We throw away enough non-biodegradable things as it is.

But if we cause an epidemic with our filthy stethescope would be better?

Also what about all the toxic waste we are harming the environment with with the cleaning products?

So we lose whichever way we go. Mankind is doomed.
 
My Ultrascope is wiped with cavi-wipes after every pt... Most of hte time. When I worked an MCI in the next county it was wiped after about every 3 pts, when I could.
 
Back
Top