Evaluation of the contamination of stethoscopes used in pediatric units of a hospital and emergency service showed that 87% of them presented contaminated diaphragms. Coagulase-negative Staphylococcus was the microorganism most frequently isolated. The resistance to antibiotics indicates that stethoscopes should be considered to be an important vehicle for disseminating bacteria resistant to antibiotics.
Stethoscope diaphragm; Disinfection; Resistance to antibiotics
