Persistent value of the stethoscope in the age of COVID-19
Autor
Vasudevan, Rajiv S.
Horiuchi, Yu
Torriani, Francesca J.
Cotter, Bruno
Maisel, Sofie M.
Dadwal, Sanjeet S.
Gaynes, Robert
Maisel, Alan S.
Institución
Resumen
The stethoscope has long been at the center of patient care as well as a symbol of the
physician-patient relationship. While advancements in other diagnostic modalities have allowed
for more efficient and accurate diagnosis, the stethoscope has evolved in parallel to address the
needs of the modern era of medicine. These advancements include sound visualization,
ambient noise reduction/cancellation, Bluetooth™ transmission, and computer algorithm
diagnostic support. However, despite these advancements, the ever-changing climate of
infection prevention, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, has led many to
question the stethoscope as a vector for infectious diseases. Stethoscopes have been reported
to harbor bacteria with contamination levels comparable to a physician’s hand. Although
disinfection is recommended, stethoscope hygiene compliance remains low. In addition,
disinfectants may not be completely effective in eliminating microorganisms. Despite these
risks, the growing technological integration with the stethoscope continues to make it a highly
valuable tool. Rather than casting our valuable tool and symbol of medicine aside, we must
create and implement an effective method of stethoscope hygiene to keep patients safe.