Al Momani Fathi, Hamad M Al Ali, Emad Athamneh.
Cross Infection in Postoperative Wounds through Ultrasound Probes.
J Coll Physicians Surg Pak Jan ;10(11):416-7.

To demonstrate the possibility of cross infection in ultrasound scanning of postoperative wounds, a study was carried out by comparing the efficacy of wiping the ultrasound probes with a gauze swab of 4x4 size pre-saturated with normal saline and (70%) isopropyl alcohol. Eight swabs were taken for each probe with a simplified method before and after wiping and drying the probes in both the cases. The coupling gel was also cultured directly and after inoculation with known strains of bacteria. Total swabs found contaminated were 50%a of which 68% were from machines used constantly on daily basis, 25% from the machines of often or intermittent use and only 13%a from the machines with little or rare use. The bacterial isolates were identified up to their species level which were E. coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumonia, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and streptococcus group A. Sterility was achieved by using a 70% alcohol wipe. The coupling gel was sterile, which neither had bactericidal effect nor supported the growth of bacteria, when it was mixed with bacterial suspension of 105/ml. of above clinical strains. We, therefore, recommend that all ultrasound probes should be wiped with 70% alcohol for two minutes before wound scanning.

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