Ultrasound and the risk of nosocomial cross infection

Abstract

. Non-critical probes arethose that come into contact with intact skin, as occursduring abdominal, breast and small-parts examinations.Semi-critical probes come into contact with a mucosalmembrane, as occurs during transesophageal, transvagi-nal and transrectal ultrasonography, or diseased/breachedskin. Critical probes come into contact with blood and/orother body cavity fluids or internal tissues, as occursduring intraoperative ultrasonography.Non-critical transducers require low-level disinfection.Removal of the applied ultrasound gel and subsequentcleaning of the transducer with a disinfectant wipe orspray after each examination is considered adequate