To, The Editor Navhind Times This letter may be published in the public interest. Stephen Dias, D.Paula
DEALING WITH CONTAMINATED STETHOSCOPES The writer Dr. Francisco Colaco a renowned cardiologist from Margao, informs the public that the doctors using stethoscopes can be harmful since it contaminates other patients when this being used every now and then from one patient to another. It could be a fact, since this doctor has enough experience in his profession. I would rather be more skeptical and go one step further, what about their bare hands and their mouth which is mostly not covered with any protective device, can also contaminate the patients with more vigor. Can I suggest that the doctors to use disposal gloves or wash their hands once the patient is been attended and also use masks which will even protect themselves from contamination of virus coming from the patient? Olden times people have grown and never bothered with such kind of infections and now we hear all sorts of things and get ourselves panic even to go to doctors as we could attract infection due to stethoscope and their bare hands. World is changing and infections are increasing! Stephen Dias D.Paula ================================================ Reference: News report from Friday NT dt 7.2.2014 from the Letters from the Editor. Dealing with Contaminated Stethoscopes SOMETIMES, we doctors merrily go on examining one patient after another for days together with the same stethoscope, oblivious to the fact that physicians' stethoscopes are even more contaminated than palms of their hands. Both the tube and the diaphragm of the stethoscope harbour resistant bacteria which can be transmitted from one patient to another with disastrous consequences. We must thank well-informed and elegant writer Adelmo Fernandes for highlighting the problem in the letter 'Of Stethoscopes and Germs' (NT, March 4, 2014). "By considering that stethoscopes are used repeatedly over the course of a day, coming directly into contact with patients' skin, while harbouring several thousands of bacteria including the deadly methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus collected during a previous physical examination, we consider them as potentially significant vectors of transmission," commented lead investigator Didier Pittet, director of the Infection Control Programme at the University of Geneva Hospitals. So what do we do to combat this malaise? First of all, let's remember, not to immerse the stethoscope in any liquid or subject it to any sterilisation process lest irreparable damage might occur to the costly item. What is recommended is to disinfect the stethoscope between patients by wiping it with a 70 per cent isopropyl alcohol solution with the readily available Azo Wipettes. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure! And this could go on until one day somebody discovers a cheap and effective 'disposable' stethoscope. Dr FRANCISCO COLACO, Margao
