Estetoscópio como agente de infecção cruzada: uma revisão

Abstract

Introduction: The stethoscopes are working tools used by various health professionals, used in the vast majority of the time, from one patient to another, often without a proper hygiene after its use. Several studies have identified that the main micro-organisms found in these instruments are of the genus Staphylococcus spp. and Acinetobacter spp., causative agents of a series of primary infections of the bloodstream. Objectives: the objective of reviewing the literature regarding the levels of contamination and main microorganisms found in stethoscopes used by health professionals, their possible causes and relationship with nosocomial infections. Materials and methods: we selected 14 articles in Portuguese and English, published in the period from 2009 to 2015 found in SciELO databases and Bireme, with the following keywords: stethoscope, air pollutants, bacillus subtilis, cross infection, for the completion and the work. Results: the articles analyzed, it was observed that most brought reports of bacterial contamination in the stethoscopes with the following microorganisms: Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus coagulase negative and Acinetobacter baumannii, important infectious agents that can cause serious complications in hospitalized patients, especially when multidrug-resistant to antimicrobials used. Conclusions: there has been a series of reports about high frequency of contamination by potential may be, stethoscopes, source of cross-infection in hospitals. This could be mitigated with a more effective disinfection of the same, before and after contact with each patient.