Abstract
The authors review the main concepts regarding the importance of cleaning/disinfection of ultrasonography probes, aiming a better comprehension by practitioners and thus enabling strategies to establish a safe practice without compromising the quality of the examination and the operator productivity. In the context of biosafety, it is imperative to assume that contact with blood or body fluids represents a potential source of infection. Thus, in order to implement cleaning/disinfection practice, it is necessary to understand the principles of infection control, to consider the cost/benefit ratio of the measures to be implemented, and most importantly, to comprehend that such measures will not only benefit the health professional and the patient, but the society as a whole.
Highlights
Amongst medical specialties, ultrasonography (US) is a versatile and widely available diagnostic imaging method, being relatively simple to perform, low-cost, non-ionizing and non- or minimally invasive
A concern has been raised about the relevance of cleaning/disinfection of US probes, whether for the purposes of scans involving contact with the skin or endocavitary scans
In a study evaluating the microbiology of the abdominal skin in 191 pregnant women, with cleaning of the transabdominal transducer at each examination, it was observed that 92% of the skin cultures were positive and, in 18% of these cases, potentially pathogenic microorganisms were identified, including Enterococcus, Staphylococcus aureus, Proteus mirabilis, Escherichia coli, group B Streptococcus, and Proteus vulgaris; and in 60% of the cases, the bacteria were transferred from the skin to the transducer[18]
Summary
Ultrasonography (US) is a versatile and widely available diagnostic imaging method, being relatively simple to perform, low-cost, non-ionizing and non- or minimally invasive. 2. PhD, MD, Sonographist, Faculdade de Tecnologia em Saúde (Fatesa), Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil. Miyague AH et al / Ultrasound scan as a source of nosocomial and cross-infection ideal cleaning method, as suggested by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the North American agency for disease control and prevention[16,17]. Within this context, a concern has been raised about the relevance of cleaning/disinfection of US probes, whether for the purposes of scans involving contact with the skin or endocavitary scans. The authors’ objective was to review the main concepts regarding this topic, aiming at a better understanding and consequential establishment of strategies for a safe practice without compromising the quality of the examination and the operator productivity
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