This is a prospective pilot study using a randomized, controlled, single blinded, crossover trial design, evaluating the effect of daily antimicrobial stethoscope diaphragm covers versus uncovered stethoscope. Stethoscopes will be cleaned Sani-cloth germicidal disposable wipes which are effective against MRSA. Each participant will then be randomly assigned to 7 days in either the intervention or the control arm. At the end of the 7 days participants stethoscopes will be cleaned again. This will be followed by another 7 days in the arm that they are not in during the first 7 days. The primary endpoint is MRSA colony count from stethoscope diaphragms cultures at 7 days, focusing on the difference between the intervention and the control periods. The secondary endpoint is the rate of hospital acquired MRSA infection in patients treated by residents during each period.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
1
Patients will receive package with instructions to use stethoscope cover, and are then instructed to switch in 7 days
Patients receive instruction to begin with no covers, and are then instructed to switch in 7 days
New York University School of Medicine
New York, New York, United States
MRSA colony count cultured from stethoscope diaphragms
Total CFU of each selected pathogen at 7 days compared by paired Mann-Whitney U tests, with each patient serving as their own control
Time frame: 7 Days
Rate of hospital acquired MRSA infection in patients treated by participating residents
Rates on nosocomial infection in each arm compared through use of Kaplan Meier curves
Time frame: 14 Days
This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.