Bacterial contamination of ultrasound probes and coupling gels in a university hospital in Turkey

Yıl 2019, Cilt: 5 Sayı: 4, 582 - 587, 04.07.2019

Hakan Kıran Murat Aral Gürkan Kıran Salih Serin Deniz Cemgil Arıkan Uğurkan Erkayıran Hasan Çetin Ekerbiçer

https://doi.org/10.18621/eurj.401327

Cited By: 1

Öz

Objectives: Nosocomial
outbreaks of infection originating from ultrasound probes and contaminated
coupling gels have been reported. It was reported that the ultrasound probe, if
cultured after routine scanning of intact skin, may become colonized with skin
flora.

Methods: Culture swabs
from 22 probes of the 9 ultrasound machines and
from the gels in the 10 gel folders were taken. All swabs
taken from probe head, probe holder and the coupling gel in the folder at the
beginning of the day were cultured. After fifth scanning and after wiping off
the gel with a dry, nonsterile paper towel, cultures were again obtained from
probe head and probe holder.

Results: A total of 98
culture results were included of which 42.8% were positive for bacterial
growth. The rate of bacterial contamination from probes at
morning before the start of examination and after scanning were 34.1% and
56.8%, respectively and this difference was statistically significant (p = 0.023).

Conclusions: We think
that using nonsterile, dry, soft and absorbent paper towel after each
procedure, could be inadequate for disinfection of probe head. Especially, good
hand hygiene could decrease the rate of growth of bacterial colony at probe
handle. 

Anahtar Kelimeler

Bacterial contamination, ultrasound, coupling gel, nosocomial infections

Kaynakça

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