Clinical Library

The DiskCover^®System is an evidence-based solution for the longstanding, unaddressed, and increasingly prominent threat of stethoscope contamination.

Stethoscope Contamination Challenge

Same Volume & Types of Pathogens on the Fingertips and Diaphragms

Longtin, et al. Mayo Clin Proc. 2014;89(3):291-299.

Stethoscopes Are Potent Vectors Of Pathogen Transmission

Thakur, et al. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2021;42(3):274-279.

Between-Patient Stethoscope Cleaning Compliance is < 4%

Boulée, et al. Am J Infect Control. 2019;47(3):238-242.

Stethoscope Disinfection Has Limited Efficacy

Knecht, et al. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2019;40(2):171-177.

Clinicians Report Reduced Confidence in Ability to Clean Stethoscopes

Vasudevan, et al. J Hosp Infect. 2022;127:1-6.

KEY DATA: Routes of HAI Transmission

Thakur, et al. Use of Viral DNA Surrogate Markers to Study Routes of Transmission of Healthcare-Associated Pathogens

Effectiveness of Barriers

Alhmidi, et al. Use of Simulations to Evaluate the Effectiveness of Barrier Precautions to Prevent Patient-to-patient Transfer of Healthcare-associated Pathogens

Stethoscopes and MDROs

Lee, et al. A Quasi-Experimental Study on Stethoscopes Contamination with Multidrug-Resistant Bacteria: Its Role as a Vehicle of Transmission

The Stethoscope: A Potential Vector for COVID-19

Harriette G.C.Van Spall & Cyde W.Yancy. The stethoscope: potential vector for COVID-19?

KEY DATA: Stethoscope Cleaning Efficacy is Limited

Knecht, et al. Molecular Analysis of Bacterial Contamination on stethoscopes in an Intensive Care Unit

KEY DATA: Third Hand Significant Contamination

Longtin, et al. Contamination of Stethoscopes and Physicians’ Hands After a Physical Examination

Stethoscope Hygiene:
A Legal Consideration

Vasudevan, et al. Stethoscope Hygiene: A Legal Consideration for Cardiologists Practicing in a New Era of Infection Control (COVID-19)

KEY DATA: Clinician Report Reduced Cleaning Confidence

Vasudevan, et al. Assessing Changes in Stethoscope Hygiene During COVID-19: A Multi-Centre Cross-Sectional Study

Self-Reported Cleaning Does Not Clean Stethoscopes

Alali, et al. Community Hospital Stethoscope Cleaning Practices and Contamination Rates

Patient-Dedicated Disposable Stethoscope Contamination

Whittington, et al. Bacterial Contamination of Stethoscopes on the Intensive Care Unit

Stethoscope Cleaning Practices are Deficient

Vasudevan, et al. Observation of Stethoscope Sanitation Practices in an Emergency Department Setting

Persistent Value of the Stethoscope

Vasudevan, et al. Persistent Value of the Stethoscope in the Age of COVID-19

KEY DATA: Observed Cleaning Compliance Less Than 4%

Boulée, et al. Contemporary Stethoscope Cleaning Practices: What we haven’t Learned in 150 Years

Aseptic Barrier Solution

A Clean Contact for Contaminated Stethoscopes

Vasudevan, et al. Mayo Clin Proc Innov Qual Outcomes. 2020;4(1):21-30.

Acoustically Invisible and Superior to Disposable Stethoscopes

Kalra, et al. Mayo Clin Proc. 2021;96(1):263-264.

Visual Indicator for Patient Experience

Siegmund, et al. OJIN. 2024;29(3).

Antimicrobial Stewardship

Peacock, et al. Am J Med. 2023;136(6):551-554.

Significant Return on Investment

Peacock, et al. Antimicrob Steward Healthc Epidemiol. 2022;2(1):55-56.

Experts Call on the CDC to Update Stethoscope Guidelines

Kalra, et al. Stethoscope hygiene: A call to action. Recommendations to update the CDC guidelines

Introduction to Touch-Free Aseptic Stethoscope Barriers

Kalra, et al. New Scope for the Stethoscope

Efficacy: Aseptic Barriers Allow a Clean Contact

Vasudevan, et al. Aseptic Barriers Allow a Clean Contact for Contaminated Stethoscope Diaphragms

Efficacy: Preventing C. difficile Transmission In Vitro

Peacock, et al. Aseptic Stethoscope Barriers Prevent C difficile Transmission In Vitro

Acoustics: Acoustically Invisible & Superior to Disposables

Kalra, et al. Aseptic Disposable Stethoscope Barrier: Acoustically Invisible and Superior to Disposable Stethoscopes

Clinical Users: Clinicians Agree on The DiskCover System

Peacock, et al. Stethoscope Hygiene, Workflow, and Patient Safety: The Crux of Healthcare-Associated Infections

ROI: Costs of Stethoscope Hygiene & Failure

Peacock, W. Frank. The hidden expense of stethoscope hygiene versus the real costs of failure

Patient Experience: Stethoscope Hygiene "Critically Important"

Siegmund, et al. Patients and Healthcare Professionals’ Perceptions of Stethoscope Barriers

Narrative Review: Stethoscopes & Alcohol-Resistant Organisms

Peacock, et al. Our Third Hand: Stethoscope Hygiene in the Era of Alcohol-Resistant Organisms

Narrative Review:
Combatting MDROs

Peacock, et al. Stethoscope barriers narrative review; It’s time for a strategy unfriendly to multi-drug resistant organisms (MDROs)

Narrative Review:
A New Normal

Peacock, et al. A New Normal for The Clinician’s Third Hand: Stethoscope Hygiene and Infection Prevention

Narrative Review:
Eliminating CLABSIs

Peacock, et al. Eliminating CLABSI: Is stethoscope hygiene the missing piece?

Key Opinion Leader Insight Videos

Validated Barrier Effectiveness

Unlocking Best Practices

Patients Love It

Investigator Conclusions on Aseptic Barriers

Innovation for a New Standard of Care

Finally Stethoscope Hygiene Made Easy

A Validated Solution to a Costly Problem

Achieving the Triple Aim

A Better Way