%0 Journal Article
%T Ultrasound Probes Vector Role in Nosocomial Infection in Imam Reza Hospital, Tabriz
%A Nazanin Eshraghi
%A Mohammad kazem Tarzamni
%A Behrouz Pourasghari
%A Rasooli Estakhr
%J Iranian Journal of Radiology
%D 2009
%I Tehran University of Medical Sciences
%X "nIntroduction: Routinely, ultrasound probes are wiped with a clean, dry, soft absorbent paper after each procedure as a basic standard of probe cleaning. As each patient must be regarded as a potential source of infection, this question may be mooted that can the ultrasound probes and coupling gel act as a vector of nosocomial infection? And which probe cleaning methods are cost-effective and suitable? "nMaterials and Methods: This study was performed using probes on 192 referred patients to the ultrasound section of Imam Reza hospital. After the ultrasound procedure, half of them were cleaned by a routine method and the rest were cleaned by 70% alcohol ethylic paper. Then using a sterile swab, superficial sampling was carried out and the swab was transferred to BHI broth media. Cultures were identified by routine bacteriological methods. "nResults: In alcohol wiped probes, no bacteria growth was detected. In paper wiped probes, 53 of the cultures (66.25%) were positive for bacteria. The grown bacteria in order of frequency were: Staphylococcus epidermis (50.94%), Staphylococcus aureus (22.6%), Pseudomonas aerogenosa (9.4%) and others. There are no statistically significant differences between convex and linear probes. The coupling gel can support bacterial growth. "nConclusion: Cleaned probes by routine methods are a source of infection and may lead to nosocomial infections. This must be highlighted in patients with disrupted skins. Although alcohol wipe was found to be effective for probe cleaning, routine use is not recommended as it may shorten the probe¡¯s working life. It is recommended to use double paper wipes for cleaning the probes after each ultrasound process and alcohol cleaning at the end of the working day. Removing the couple gel from the probes may reduce the infection probability. It seems that this method is time and cost effective. We recommend alcohol cleaning of probes before examination of patients at risk of infection.
%U http://journals.tums.ac.ir/PdfMed.aspx?pdf_med=/upload_files/pdf/13136.pdf&manuscript_id=13136