Effectiveness of ultraviolet C-light in eliminating microbial pathogens from stethoscopes used in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of East Avenue Medical Center

ABSTRACT

Background@#Instruments used to examine infected patients may be contaminated by disease- causing microorganisms during contact. If these instruments are not sterilized properly prior to being used on other patients, pathogen transfer may occur via this route. Stethoscopes are the most commonly used equipment by healthcare providers. Microbes and viruses may be transmitted from one patient to another and from healthcare worker to patient via stethoscope membranes.@*Objective@#To determine the effectiveness of ultraviolet c-light in eliminating microbial pathogens from stethoscopes used in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of East Avenue Medical Center.@*Methodology@#This is a two-arm, double blind, randomized controlled trial. The minimum sample size computed for this study was 26 stethoscopes. Thirteen (13) stethoscopes each were randomly allocated to Ultraviolet C (Group A) and standard of care (Group B) groups.@*Data Analysis@#Summary statistics were reported in tables as means, standard deviations, percentages and frequencies min-max for quantitative discrete outcome measures or percentages for qualitativemeasures.@*Results@#The predominant microbial pathogens colonized in the stethoscopes were different species of Coagulase Negative Staphylococcus (CONS) namely Staphylococcus Heamolyticus (34.62%), Staphyloccocus Epidermidis (26.92%) and Staphylococcus Hominis (19.23%). Both UVC light and standard of care were equally effective in decreasing the CFUS on the stethoscopes. There was no significant difference in the post-test colony-forming units (CFUs) between the two groups (t = .594, p >.05).@*Conclusion@#UVC light sterilization is comparative to the standard of care in eliminating microbial pathogens. It works faster and is more reliable, durable and cost-effective. It is recommended as an alternative method for decontaminating stethoscopes used at the EAMC-NICU due to its numerous advantages.Keywords ultraviolet c light, neonatal intensive care unit, stethoscope