4-Step Guide To Cleaning Your Stethoscope
Stethoscopes are often the first big purchase health professionals make.
The expectation is that they will last for many years, and they often do IF they are properly taken care of.
The challenge?
Most healthcare professionals don’t know exactly how to clean them.
In this guide, we share a couple of important aspects of stethoscope hygiene:
Stethoscope cleaning
Stethoscope maintenance
Stethoscope cleaner (which is best to use)
And more
Scroll down to learn more. And remember :)
Don’t be a dope, take care of your scope!
Contents
Why should you clean your stethoscope?
While you probably don’t want to read the facts (since they’ll leave you feeling disappointed and frustrated), here’s what we know:
“It was found that 71% of stethoscopes had a significant bacterial growth” according to The Journal of Hospital Infection
“Only 8% of participants, all of whom were nurses, reported cleaning their stethoscope before or after each patient assessment” according to a study done in 2011
Numerous studies “have shown that stethoscopes may be contaminated by various microorganisms, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa”
You get the idea.
Stethoscopes can be heavily contaminated. And, therefore, need to be cleaned.
Besides the obvious reason of maintaining hygiene, there’s also another reason
Studies have shown that the diaphragm of the stethoscope is the most commonly cleaned portion and the tubing is the most neglected.
It is important to properly care for your entire stethoscope in order to increase its longevity.
Step 1: Clean your stethoscope tubing
The tubing, while not directly coming into contact with areas that would likely produce contamination (like the earpieces, for example), still needs to be cleaned.
A study of healthcare professionals found that “76% believed that infection transmission occurs via stethoscopes, but only 24% reported disinfecting after every use.”
We have a follow-up question.
Did those healthcare professionals do a great job cleaning the tubing? It’s hard to say. However, it seems like it is a forgotten area to clean.
How to clean stethoscope tubing?
Many people think that they need a specific “stethoscope cleaner.”
That’s just not true. It’s unnecessary! So, what do you need?
Find yourself a 70% isopropyl alcohol solution.
Disassemble your stethoscope and thoroughly clean the tubing using the 70% isopropyl solution.
Step 2: Remove tunable diaphragms and clean
First, what are the tunable diaphragms?
They are the part of the stethoscope that “helps make auscultating a patient easier and more effective. It lets you hear different types of sounds by simply adjusting the amount of pressure you apply to the chestpiece.”
And, you guessed it.
Just like the tubing, they need to be cleaned.
How to remove tunable diaphragms and what to clean them with?
Most tunable diaphragms are made by Littman. And, they’re pretty easy to remove.
According to Littman, here’s what you need to do:
“To remove the Littmann tunable diaphragm, pinch the rim of the diaphragm with your thumb and index fingernails; pull and lift the diaphragm from the chestpiece.”
In terms of cleaning them?
It’s not that hard. Simply wipe their surfaces with soapy water or alcohol.
Step 3: Clean your stethoscope’s earpieces
So, are stethoscope earpieces really that dirty?
A European study found that “Three out of the 22 personal stethoscope diaphragms and five earpieces were colonized with pathogens.”
5 out of 22 earpieces… colonized with pathogens.
Yep, the earpieces definitely need to be cleaned.
How to clean stethoscope earpieces?
There’s nothing super fancy that needs to be done.
The best way to clean stethoscope earpieces is to thoroughly clean them with soapy water or alcohol wipes.
Step 4: Properly dry your stethoscope before reassembling
Moist environments are conducive to increased bacterial growth.
So, you’re not officially done cleaning your stethoscope until you’ve dried it all the way?
What’s the best way to dry your stethoscope?
There are two options:
You can allow it to air dry by placing it on a sterilized surface
You can clean it with cloth, paper towels, or anything else (assuming that it is also clean)
Why does this matter during stethoscope sterilization?
Bacteria likes moisture.
So, if your stethoscope is still moist after reassembling, you’re creating a friendly petri dish party for all bacteria to come and join.
According to Sciencing “Many bacteria can survive for extended periods without moisture, but without it they can't grow and reproduce.”
What NOT to do with stethoscope cleaning
Above, we shared what you SHOULD do when cleaning your stethoscope. However, there are also some things that you shouldn’t do.
1. Do NOT use hand sanitizer to clean your diaphragm or tubing
Hand sanitizer can be abrasive since it may include additives that will damage your stethoscope.
What additives does hand sanitizer have?
Research in Asia found that “A number of agents including phenolics, alcohols and quaternary ammonium compounds are used in hand disinfection preparations.”
2. Do NOT immerse your stethoscope in any liquid
This one should be pretty straightforward.
You’re not cleaning your dishes after dinner. You’re cleaning a piece of medical equipment that requires proper care - stethoscopes aren’t waterproof.
3. Do NOT attempt to sterilize your stethoscope
Stethoscope sterilization is something that is mentioned online.
No matter what you read online, you should not sterilize it.
Why?
Most sterilization methods are harsh and abrasive and are likely to damage or break your stethoscope.
Additional stethoscope maintenance and cleaning tips
Make sure to wash your hands before and after cleaning your stethoscope and if disassembling, make sure the area you put your stethoscope down on is clean. Place the eartips in a box so as to not misplace them while you continue cleaning and snap them back into position as soon as they are completely dry.
Once you are done cleaning your stethoscope, keep it in a soft and protective case or bag in your locker to protect it from dust, dirt and scratches. Many health care professionals are using additional cleaning methods such as bleach wipes, hydrogen peroxide and CaviWipes to disinfect the tubing or diaphragms, but likely those harsh chemicals will cause cracks or peeling in the tubing over time.
Make sure to use alcohol wipes made for lenses rather than paper towels or other means for the most gentle way to clean your diaphragm and minimize scratching it. What other tips do you have disinfecting your scope?
Share them with your colleagues in the comments below so we can all stay healthy and safe!
