According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), stethoscopes are known to harbor dangerous pathogens and should be cleaned for at least one minute with an alcohol- or bleach-based disinfectant before and after each patient interaction.  However, as evidenced by abundant stethoscope contamination studies, disinfection procedures are infrequently or inadequately performed.  The risk of infectious disease transmission is of significant concern to the healthcare system, as nearly 700,000 U.S. cases of hospital acquired infections (HAIs) were reported in 2015.  HAIs significantly increase hospital length of stay, cost of care, use of isolation procedures, and high mortality rates.

Today’s study results strongly suggest the applied barriers enable sterile contact with patients and protect from transmission of bacteria, viruses and yeasts that might contaminate stethoscope diaphragms. 

“Stethoscope contamination introduces an unnecessary risk of infectious disease transmission,” said Dr. David T. Pride, Associate Professor of Pathology and Medicine and Principle Investigator on the UC San Diego study.  “Although we have ongoing work to further address the risk of contamination, this effectiveness study demonstrates a potential patient safety benefit can be achieved using a barrier approach.”

AseptiScope is poised to launch its novel system that addresses stethoscope contamination in early 2020.  The wall-mounted, touch-free AseptiScope DiskCover System dispenses a disk-shaped barrier in about a second to stethoscopes, creating an aseptic surface during patient examinations.  In addition to a clean surface, the barrier is designed to also maintain high quality acoustics clinicians require.

“The study results confirm the DiskCover System elevates stethoscope hygiene and sets a new standard in patient safety,” said Scott Mader, CEO and President of AseptiScope.  “The DiskCover System will also save a tremendous amount of time for busy doctors and nurses who struggle with thoroughly cleaning stethoscopes before and after each exam.”

About AseptiScope, Inc.

AseptiScope is a privately funded San Diego, California based, clinical innovation company, formed in early 2016. The organization is founded and led by clinical innovation experts, leading medical researchers and practicing physicians. The AseptiScope mission is to design, develop, manufacture and commercialize novel solutions that ensure “Infection Protection for Clinician & Patient.”  The company will introduce the first true and practical solution for the longstanding challenge of stethoscope contamination in early 2020: The AseptiScope DiskCover System.  Visit www.aseptiscope.com for more information.

AseptiScope is a registered trademark of AseptiScope Inc. DiskCover is a trademark of AseptiScope Inc.

MEDIA CONTACT
Lauren Lehman
LLehman@L3Healthcare.com
858-437-1107

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October 1, 2019, San Diego, CA. – In advance of the 2020 launch of its novel system to reduce stethoscope contamination, AseptiScope, Inc. is pleased to announce the appointment of Tom Watlington as Chief Commercial Officer. Tom, a highly regarded leader in the biotech start-up community and serial entrepreneur, has a proven track record of successfully forming healthcare organizations, building and revitalizing commercial operations, and forging pivotal strategic business alliances that substantially drove profits, efficiencies and growth.  In addition to his leadership and strategic partnering while in the Diabetes Care arm of the biotech giant, Boehringer Mannheim, Tom led commercial operations at Biosite during which time he increased production, executed an unprecedented launch of the Triage BNP test and grew sales to $300M.  He later led innovative startups such as Naviscan, Cuida Health and Sotera Wireless, and gained considerable experience in raising private capital and developing and commercializing complex medical technology.  Tom joins an already impressive and growing executive team that includes experienced cross-functional leaders in healthcare, clinical and biotech experts, and a host of advisors working in unison to prepare the organization for next year’s DiskCover System launch.

“Tom brings tremendous commercial expertise, passion, and demonstrated success in start-up device launches to the team”, said Scott Mader, CEO and President of AseptiScope.  “We remain extremely confident in our exceptional team as we introduce technology that will finally resolve an enormous patient safety concern.” 

“It’s an exciting time to be part of AseptiScope and introducing a long-overdue solution to address a serious healthcare problem,” said Tom Watlington.  “We are taking meaningful steps toward the DiskCover System’s launch, which will soon have a dramatic impact on reducing infectious disease transmissions and improving patient care.”  

About AseptiScope, Inc.

AseptiScope is a privately funded San Diego, California based, clinical innovation company, formed in early 2016. The organization is founded and led by clinical innovation experts, leading medical researchers and practicing physicians. The AseptiScope mission is to design, develop, manufacture and commercialize novel solutions that ensure “Infection Protection for Clinician & Patient.”  The company will introduce the first true and practical solution for the longstanding challenge of stethoscope contamination in early 2020: The AseptiScope DiskCover System.  Visit www.aseptiscope.com for more information.

AseptiScope is a registered trademark of AseptiScope Inc. DiskCover is a trademark of AseptiScope Inc.

MEDIA CONTACT
Lauren Lehman
LLehman@L3Healthcare.com
858-437-1107

Download PDF

A new study demonstrates that practitioner stethoscopes are contaminated by a plethora of bacteria, including organisms that may be associated with nosocomial infections. Importantly, cleaning reduces contamination but does not bring the bacterial biomass down to the level of clean stethoscopes. The important findings of this study were reinforced in a recent New England Journal of Medicine Journal Watch editorial comment that stated, “stethoscope cleaning needs to be promoted as much as handwashing in the healthcare environment.”

“Health care-associated infections (HAIs) post a significant danger to hospitalized patients. In 2011, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimated that there were 75,000 inpatient deaths…”

“Hospital-acquired infections (HAIs), or infections acquired while receiving care within a medical facility, pose a significant risk to patients…”

November 12, 2018 – San Diego, CA.  AseptiScope®, Inc. announces it is advancing its innovative medical device to reduce stethoscope contamination that two large U.S. studies, published last week, confirm pose a significant health risk.  The two large clinical studies appearing in the American Journal of Infection Control (AJIC) conclude that stethoscopes are often improperly or rarely disinfected. In the AJIC November 6 issue, investigators observed hand and stethoscope hygiene habits of 400 interactions between clinicians and patients in a large urban hospital in Houston, Texas.  While disinfection stations and gloves were routinely used in hand hygiene, fewer than 1 in 5 stethoscopes were disinfected, with less than 4% of interactions conforming to CDC guidelines. As published in Friday’s AJIC, investigators observed 426 emergency room patient encounters at a San Diego, California based healthcare system and found stethoscope hygiene occurring in no more than 13% of patient interactions, though not necessarily in compliance with CDC guidelines.

According to investigators, with existing “technology limitations”, stethoscope hygiene is frequently neglected.  “We know that stethoscopes and hands carry similar pathogen contamination levels, and stethoscopes can transfer these pathogens between patients,” said David Boulée, lead investigator in the AJIC study out of Texas. “However, an effective solution for this clinical dilemma, such as safe-to-touch wipes or a ‘‘no-touch’ dispenser system for an audiologically transparent single-use barrier’, is not readily available.”

In the fast-paced and highly intense emergency setting, investigators from the November 9 San Diego study suggest stethoscope hygiene is about more than just a quick wipe with alcohol. “At each patient encounter, clinicians should be reminded of stethoscope hygiene for hands and stethoscopes, and have access to a rapid, effective method to reduce transference of bacteria and other contaminants during the exam,” said Dr. Punam Chowdhury.  “In our study, we observed some clinicians wrapping a glove over the stethoscope in an effort to reduce cross-contamination. This is a clear indication of a problem that needs a solution.”

Scott Mader, CEO of AseptiScope, Inc., a California based medical device company, believes they will soon have a solution to address this problem.  “We are preparing to introduce the first touch-free, single use stethoscope barrier dispensing system.  The AseptiScope DiskCover^TM System will provide clinicians a visible, rapid and affordable solution that applies a clean barrier directly to the stethoscope in a few seconds, permitting a timely, clean and effective examination with patients.”  The AseptiScope DiskCover System is planned for release in 2019.

About AseptiScope, Inc.

AseptiScope is a privately funded San Diego, California based, clinical innovation company, formed in early 2016. The organization is founded and led by clinical innovation experts, leading medical researchers and practicing physicians. The AseptiScope mission is to design, develop, manufacture and commercialize novel solutions that ensure “Infection Protection for Clinician & Patient.”  The company will introduce the first true and practical solution for the longstanding challenge of stethoscope contamination in 2019: The AseptiScope DiskCover^TM System.

AseptiScope is a registered trademark of AseptiScope Inc. DiskCover is a trademark of AseptiScope Inc.

MEDIA CONTACT
Lauren Lehman
LLehman@L3Healthcare.com
858-437-1107

Download PDF

Vasuveden RS, et al. Observation of Stethoscope Sanitation Practices in the Emergency Department. ID Week 2018 Poster Presentation from UCSD and VAMC San Diego.

Despite 30 years of accrued evidence of contamination, this latest presentation at ID Week, 2018 confirms stethoscope hygiene compliance remains poor – reinforcing the need for innovation solutions.