Digital Stethoscope: Cleaning Guide

Overview

The following information provides safe cleaning protocols for GlobalMed's Digital Stethoscopes.

For best practices on environmental cleaning in healthcare facilities always consult the latest literature from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC.gov) and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA.gov) for a list of registered cleaning agents.

CDC Classification for Risk of Infection

These procedures reference the classification scheme found in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC.gov), Guidelines for Disinfection and Sterilization in Healthcare Facilities, 2008. In order to stratify the relative degree of risk for infection when utilizing the individual device components, the procedures are categorized into three levels. The categories and their basic definitions are as follows:

• Critical: Critical items confer a high risk for infection if they are contaminated with any microorganism. Thus, objects that enter sterile tissue or the vascular system must be sterile because any microbial contamination could transmit disease. This category includes surgical instruments, cardiac and urinary catheters, implants, and ultrasound probes used in sterile body cavities. Most of the items in this category should be purchased as sterile or be sterilized with steam if possible. Heat-sensitive objects can be treated with EtO, hydrogen peroxide gas plasma; or if other methods are unsuitable, by liquid chemical sterilants.
• Semi-critical: Semi-critical items contact mucous membranes or nonintact skin. This category includes respiratory therapy and anesthesia equipment, some endoscopes, laryngoscope blades 24, esophageal manometry probes, cystoscopes 25, anorectal manometry catheters, and diaphragm fitting rings. These medical devices should be free from all microorganisms; however, small numbers of bacterial spores are permissible. Intact mucous membranes, such as those of the lungs and the gastrointestinal tract, generally are resistant to infection by common bacterial spores but susceptible to other organisms, such as bacteria, mycobacteria, and viruses. Semi-critical items minimally require high-level disinfection using chemical disinfectants.
• Non-critical: Non-critical items are those that come in contact with intact skin but not mucous membranes. Intact skin acts as an effective barrier to most microorganisms; therefore, the sterility of items coming in contact with intact skin is "not critical."

Cleaning Frequency

The following table indicates that the CDC Risk Classification assigned to a product determines its Cleaning Frequency.

Cleaning Frequency

Cleaning Precautions

1. NEVER use solvents or flammable solutions to clean electronic devices.
2. NEVER spray any liquids directly on or immerse any components in water or cleaning solutions; apply any liquids to a clean cloth and then use the cloth to clean the component. This will prevent liquids from seeping into the device via buttons or other permeable access points.
3. ALWAYS unplug the electronic devices when cleaning with liquids or damp cloth.
4. ALWAYS unplug electronic devices from their power source before cleaning the buttons, dials, switches, keyboard, mouse, or air vents.
5. ALWAYS Disconnect keyboards before cleaning them.
6. ALWAYS Wear safety glasses equipped with side shields when cleaning the keyboard.
7. ALWAYS use approved disinfecting wipes and/or a soft cloth, lightly moistened with the approved cleaning solutions per CDC guidelines where applicable.
8. NEVER use any abrasive cleaners or volatile solvents.
9. NEVER use any alcohol, ammonia, or abrasive products on screens or monitors to avoid damage or cloudy appearance.
10. NEVER excessively wipe a camera lens as this may result in fogging.
11. ALWAYS consult CDC guidelines and product manuals, if in doubt.

Procedure

The following table details the cleaning guidelines for GlobalMed's Digital Stethoscopes.

Digital Stethoscope Cleaning Guidelines