An article posted on the Infection Control Today website is a stark reminder that we as EMS providers need to make sure we are not spreading disease between patients. Of the 50 stethoscopes they swabbed from EMS providers, 16 had MRSA colonization when cultured.
The report reminded me of an undergraduate project I did for a microbiology class. I swabbed the cabinet handles and counter tops in the patient compartment of an ambulance. After finding all kinds of nasty, including some STD bugs, the ambulance service revised their whole infection control program.
No comment on what other practices they may have changed.
So the next time you wash your hands, remember to swab your scope.
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