The stethoscope moves from patient to patient throughout the clinical environment. Studies have found it contaminated most of the time it is used, with pooled estimates across the literature placing contamination at approximately 85%.³

Pathogens documented on stethoscopes include methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, vancomycin-resistant enterococci, carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales, multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and resistant strains of Escherichia coli.³

The challenge is not simply recognizing the need for stethoscope hygiene. It is achieving it consistently between patient encounters.