Ambulance Stethoscopes May Pose Health Risks

Ambulance crews may be unknowingly exposing patients to drug-resistant bacteria through unsanitized stethoscopes. According to a new report, published in the journal Prehospital Emergency Care, emergency medical service workers failed to clean stethoscopes as often as they should, potentially spreading methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA. An simple alcohol swab is usually sufficient to kill these deadly bacteria.

Eric Nagourney, The New York Times 03/16/2009
Read Article: The New York Times